Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
Uber’s next driver might surprise you—it could be someone without a pulse! The ride-hailing company has signed a deal to launch robotaxis, a Chinese startup that specializes in autonomous driving, in Europe at the beginning of 2026. You can drive real cars without a driver, but only if you know how to use sensors and code. For a continent that is used to metro delays, rail strikes, & grumpy taxi drivers, the arrival of autonomous Ubers could be a transport miracle or a glitching migraine.
What is it all about?
Momenta & Uber are partnering to deploy an autonomous ride service in select European cities. If you have not heard of Momenta, do not worry— most of Europe hasn’t either. In China, Momenta is a major player in the self-driving car game. This means that cars can perform most driving tasks without human intervention. The Goal? The goal? We would like to avoid the trials and errors we’ve seen in U.S. cities.
Why is this important?
Europe has lagged behind China and the U.S. in terms of robotaxis. Europe has stricter regulations, older cities, and a more cautious public attitude towards AI on wheels. This announcement is a major step. If it is successful, this could disrupt urban transportation in the EU. It can increase efficiency, reduce emissions and lower Uber’s costs.
Europe’s Cautious Hopefulness
Uber hasn’t specified which major cities in Europe it will launch its service first. However, insiders suggest that this could be Madrid, Berlin or Paris. What’s the problem? What is the challenge? The EU is cracking down on AI safety, data privacy and digital accountability. It is difficult to comply with all the requirements of the AI Act, urban standards for mobility, and transport law. But there are plenty of opportunities to reduce traffic and urban emissions. If launched thoughtfully, robotaxis could be an important part of Europe’s digital and green agenda.
What are the big questions? Can it work? “Will people trust it?” Would you jump into a car with no driver at midnight in Barcelona on a wet day? In the next chapter, it’s not only about technical capabilities but also a cultural change. Uber and Momenta sell comfort combined with autonomy. What about in Europe? We’re about to find that out.
