Uber and Chinese autonomous vehicle developer Pony.ai are expanding their partnership to launch a robotaxi service in London. The companies intend to begin testing Pony.ai’s Gen-7 vehicles in the city within the coming weeks. This initiative is part of Uber’s broader strategy to integrate autonomous technology into its platform through collaborations with over 30 different companies.
The partnership between Uber and Pony.ai began in May 2025, initially focusing on the Middle East. The companies have since expanded their cooperation to Europe, including a project in Zagreb, Croatia, launched in August 2026 alongside Verne. In that venture, Pony.ai provides the driving system and Arcfox Alpha T5 vehicles, while Uber manages the ride-hailing network access.
Uber is also collaborating with the British startup Wayve for its London operations. In February 2026, Wayve secured $1.2 billion in funding, with Uber contributing to the round. This investment could increase by an additional $300 million, provided Wayve successfully deploys its robotaxis in London. Uber aims to offer autonomous trips in up to 15 cities globally by the end of 2026.
Pony.ai currently operates robotaxi services in four cities across China and is actively pursuing expansion into markets in the Middle East, such as Qatar. Uber continues to utilize a multi-partner approach for its autonomous vehicle deployment, having established separate agreements with companies like Baidu and WeRide for services in Dubai.
