Mercedes-Backed Momenta Targets Dubai and Europe as Robotaxi Fleet Expansion Accelerates
Chinese driving company Momenta Global plans to expand its robotaxi operations into Dubai and several European cities, with the company targeting a fleet of several thousand vehicles on the road by the end of 2027. The company currently has more than 100 robotaxis deployed across three countries and is conducting tests in five Chinese cities, Munich and Abu Dhabi.
Momenta’s robotaxi division head Shuo Xie said the company is expecting its fleet to reach the hundreds by the end of 2026 before scaling to several thousand the following year. The company is also set for further expansion in Japan and has been in discussions with several European cities.
The technology combines an autonomous-driving software, cameras, sensors, high-definition mapping and AI technology to allow vehicles to navigate roads with limited or no human intervention. The system continuously analyses traffic, pedestrians, road signs and other vehicles to make driving decisions such as steering, braking and lane changes.
Founded by a former Microsoft researcher Cao Xudong , Momenta is backed by Mercedes-Benz and counts Toyota and BYD among its partners. Alongside robotaxis, the company develops advanced driver-assistance software for automakers.
The company is also working with chipmaker XHeart to develop dedicated processors for autonomous-driving applications. Momenta expects XHeart’s next-generation X9 chip to support future robotaxi deployments, with the company saying the chips could cost significantly less than processors offering comparable computing power from Nvidia.
