Uber this week unveiled its third partnership with a Chinese autonomous vehicle company, underscoring the ride-hailing giant’s intensifying strategy to capture a significant share of the emerging global robotaxi market.
The latest collaboration, announced Tuesday, teams Uber with Guangzhou-based Pony AI. Pony, whose recent Nasdaq IPO valued it at approximately $5.25 billion, will introduce robotaxis on Uber’s platform in a critical Middle Eastern market later this year.
This news follows quickly on the heels of two similar announcements involving Uber and Chinese autonomous vehicle developers Momenta and WeRide. Under the Momenta agreement, Uber aims to roll out robotaxi services in Europe starting in 2026. With WeRide, Uber plans an expansive push into 15 cities throughout Europe and the Middle East within the next five years. The Uber-WeRide partnership already operates a commercial robotaxi service in Abu Dhabi.
Uber’s alliances with Pony, Momenta, and WeRide reinforce its already robust collection of more than 15 autonomous vehicle partnerships spanning ride-hailing, freight, and delivery services. Most of these partnerships, such as those with Waymo and May Mobility, involve U.S.-based companies, with the UK-based Wayve being another notable international exception.
The increased pace of these developments reflects Uber’s proactive moves to counter mounting competitive pressure. Tesla plans to debut its own robotaxi services next month, starting with Austin, Texas, posing a potential challenge. Uber also faces scrutiny due to federal investigations into alleged misleading subscription practices and anticipates possible consumer spending softness later in 2025. Through aggressive partnership building and strategic market expansion, Uber aims to reassure investors of substantial growth potential.
Associating with Chinese autonomous vehicle companies may give Uber a strategic advantage by tapping into the rapidly evolving international footprint of these firms. Already established internationally, WeRide provides commercial robotaxi operations not only in Abu Dhabi but also in Beijing and France, along with testing in numerous locations across China and Europe. Pony conducts paid robotaxi trips in three Chinese cities and recently expanded its testing operations to Luxembourg.
In contrast, Waymo, the foremost U.S.-based autonomous vehicle company currently providing commercial driverless rides, has recently only begun preliminary data collection in Tokyo.
Uber’s collaboration positions Pony to quickly enter the lucrative Middle Eastern region. Following Uber’s prior success in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan—strengthened by the company’s acquisition of Careem in 2019—the partnership with Pony is designed to later expand into additional international territories. Pony AI confirmed its ambition to scale its autonomous offerings to broader global markets through its association with Uber.
At inception, riders choosing vehicle services via Uber will have the option to select a self-driving car, initially accompanied by safety operators until achieving a fully autonomous commercial phase.
Uber executives are expected to provide additional insights into their ongoing market strategy, including their newly announced acquisition of a controlling stake in a major Turkish food delivery venture, during this week’s first-quarter earnings call.
