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Uber Expands PONY Robotaxi Deal: European AV Push Gaining Pace?
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Key Takeaways
Uber and Pony AI plan to deploy more than 2,000 robotaxis across Europe, including Zagreb.
The partnership combines Pony AI's Level 4 technology with Uber's global mobility platform.
Uber's partnership model supports robotaxi expansion without developing or owning every vehicle.
Uber Technologies (UBER - Free Report) and Chinese company Pony AI (PONY - Free Report) have expanded their strategic partnership, with plans to deploy more than 2,000 Pony AI robotaxis across Europe. The collaboration will extend beyond the forthcoming commercial service on Uber’s platform in Zagreb to four additional European cities. Rollout details will be disclosed in phases, while the broader agreement also covers planned deployments in the Middle East.
The agreement provides a clearer route to commercial scale for PONY’s joint-deployment model, which combines Level 4 autonomous-driving technology, a major mobility platform and daily fleet management. Technology providers, platform operators and fleet partners can work together within each market, with some participants potentially performing multiple roles. Vehicle ownership and financing arrangements may vary by location.
Pony AI will contribute its Level 4 technology and the passenger-experience and operational expertise gained from several large-scale robotaxi deployments. Uber will provide access to customers through its global mobility platform, including booking, payments and customer support, alongside the expanding network of human drivers. Established local partners selected for individual markets may manage everyday fleet operations.
The Chinese company already runs paid, fully driverless robotaxi services across the country’s four tier-one cities. The company has achieved citywide break-even unit economics in several markets, supporting the commercial viability of its model at scale.
The expanded collaboration advances Pony AI’s growth strategy by complementing its entry into new markets with regional-scale fleet deployments. The companies began working together in May 2025, when they announced plans to introduce Pony.ai robotaxis to Uber’s platform internationally. In 2026, they partnered with Croatian mobility company Verne to launch Europe’s first commercial robotaxi service in Zagreb, with it acting as the local fleet owner and operator. Uber’s global head of autonomous mobility and delivery, Sarfraz Maredia, indicated that the collaboration was intended to create a repeatable commercial model capable of expanding rapidly and reliably between cities.
For Uber, the development could substantially accelerate the robotaxi push without the requirement to develop autonomous driving technology or to own and operate every vehicle itself. Integrating PONY’s proven system with Uber’s customer base, booking infrastructure and local operating network gives the platform a potentially repeatable, asset-flexible approach to entering multiple markets. The planned fleet of more than 2,000 vehicles would also help Uber move beyond isolated trials, increase the availability of autonomous rides and strengthen its position as a central marketplace connecting passengers with both human-driven and driverless vehicles.
Uber aims to gain a stronghold in the robotaxi market through strategic partnerships. By adopting this approach, Uber has avoided the massive R&D costs of developing autonomous systems in-house. In 2020, Uber sold the self-driving division but retained its focus on becoming the ultimate ride-hailing super app.
In line with its partnership-driven strategy, Uber, in collaboration with another Chinese company, WeRide (WRD - Free Report) , announced earlier this year plans to introduce commercial robotaxi services in the Greater Zurich Region. This move represents their second joint deployment in Europe, coming just weeks after the announcement of a similar initiative in Madrid.
Since December 2024, WeRide and Uber have introduced robotaxi services across several Middle Eastern markets, including fully driverless commercial operations in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, as well as public services in Riyadh. These deployments provide an operational foundation for their European expansion.
UBER’s Share Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates
Shares of UBER have gained in low single digits (% wise) over the past three months. Despite the not-so-impressive performance, UBER’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Internet-Services industry over the same time frame.
3-Month Price Comparison
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, UBER trades at a 12-month forward price-to-sales of 2.44X. UBER trades at a discount compared with its industry.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
See how the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Uber’s earnings has been revised over the past 90 days.
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
Image: Bigstock
Uber Expands PONY Robotaxi Deal: European AV Push Gaining Pace?
Key Takeaways
Uber Technologies (UBER - Free Report) and Chinese company Pony AI (PONY - Free Report) have expanded their strategic partnership, with plans to deploy more than 2,000 Pony AI robotaxis across Europe. The collaboration will extend beyond the forthcoming commercial service on Uber’s platform in Zagreb to four additional European cities. Rollout details will be disclosed in phases, while the broader agreement also covers planned deployments in the Middle East.
The agreement provides a clearer route to commercial scale for PONY’s joint-deployment model, which combines Level 4 autonomous-driving technology, a major mobility platform and daily fleet management. Technology providers, platform operators and fleet partners can work together within each market, with some participants potentially performing multiple roles. Vehicle ownership and financing arrangements may vary by location.
Pony AI will contribute its Level 4 technology and the passenger-experience and operational expertise gained from several large-scale robotaxi deployments. Uber will provide access to customers through its global mobility platform, including booking, payments and customer support, alongside the expanding network of human drivers. Established local partners selected for individual markets may manage everyday fleet operations.
The Chinese company already runs paid, fully driverless robotaxi services across the country’s four tier-one cities. The company has achieved citywide break-even unit economics in several markets, supporting the commercial viability of its model at scale.
The expanded collaboration advances Pony AI’s growth strategy by complementing its entry into new markets with regional-scale fleet deployments. The companies began working together in May 2025, when they announced plans to introduce Pony.ai robotaxis to Uber’s platform internationally. In 2026, they partnered with Croatian mobility company Verne to launch Europe’s first commercial robotaxi service in Zagreb, with it acting as the local fleet owner and operator. Uber’s global head of autonomous mobility and delivery, Sarfraz Maredia, indicated that the collaboration was intended to create a repeatable commercial model capable of expanding rapidly and reliably between cities.
For Uber, the development could substantially accelerate the robotaxi push without the requirement to develop autonomous driving technology or to own and operate every vehicle itself. Integrating PONY’s proven system with Uber’s customer base, booking infrastructure and local operating network gives the platform a potentially repeatable, asset-flexible approach to entering multiple markets. The planned fleet of more than 2,000 vehicles would also help Uber move beyond isolated trials, increase the availability of autonomous rides and strengthen its position as a central marketplace connecting passengers with both human-driven and driverless vehicles.
Uber aims to gain a stronghold in the robotaxi market through strategic partnerships. By adopting this approach, Uber has avoided the massive R&D costs of developing autonomous systems in-house. In 2020, Uber sold the self-driving division but retained its focus on becoming the ultimate ride-hailing super app.
In line with its partnership-driven strategy, Uber, in collaboration with another Chinese company, WeRide (WRD - Free Report) , announced earlier this year plans to introduce commercial robotaxi services in the Greater Zurich Region. This move represents their second joint deployment in Europe, coming just weeks after the announcement of a similar initiative in Madrid.
Since December 2024, WeRide and Uber have introduced robotaxi services across several Middle Eastern markets, including fully driverless commercial operations in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, as well as public services in Riyadh. These deployments provide an operational foundation for their European expansion.
UBER’s Share Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates
Shares of UBER have gained in low single digits (% wise) over the past three months. Despite the not-so-impressive performance, UBER’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Internet-Services industry over the same time frame.
3-Month Price Comparison
From a valuation standpoint, UBER trades at a 12-month forward price-to-sales of 2.44X. UBER trades at a discount compared with its industry.
See how the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Uber’s earnings has been revised over the past 90 days.
UBER's Zacks Rank
UBER currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.