Momenta secures Germany-wide approval for Level 4 robotaxi testing

Chinese autonomous driving company Momenta has become the first Chinese firm to receive a nationwide Level 4 autonomous driving testing permit in Germany from the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA). The approval marks a significant regulatory milestone for the company’s European robotaxi ambitions by allowing testing across urban roads throughout Germany without requiring separate authorization for each city.

The nationwide permit removes a major administrative hurdle that has traditionally slowed autonomous vehicle development in Europe. Until now, companies seeking to test self-driving vehicles in Germany had to obtain individual approvals for every municipality where trials were planned, creating lengthy regulatory procedures before expanding to additional locations.

Level 4 autonomous driving allows a vehicle to operate without human intervention within a defined operational domain while automatically moving to a safe condition if a system failure occurs. Germany established one of the world’s first legal frameworks for Level 4 autonomous driving through legislation adopted in 2021, with the KBA serving as the country’s certification authority.

Momenta Chief Executive Officer Cao Xudong said Germany has established one of the world’s leading regulatory systems for autonomous driving by placing public safety at the center of its approval process. He added that the company’s safety validation standards will align with the European Union regulatory framework, a move that could support future expansion into additional EU markets.

Munich is expected to become the launch point for Momenta’s first European robotaxi service through a partnership with Uber announced in September 2025. Uber also increased its investment in the company by purchasing additional shares through its wholly owned subsidiary SMB Holding Corporation during Momenta’s Hong Kong stock exchange listing on July 8. The initial public offering raised HK$6.8 billion, and Uber now holds about 1.19 million shares valued at approximately US$45 million.

Momenta has spent several years building its presence in Germany through partnerships with Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi and Volkswagen Group. Mercedes-Benz became the company’s first international automotive investor in 2017. The company is currently testing robotaxis in multiple Chinese cities as well as in Munich and Abu Dhabi.

Despite the regulatory progress, the nationwide testing permit does not authorize commercial passenger services. Industry publication electrive noted that additional regulatory approvals remain necessary before paid robotaxi operations can begin. Momenta has not announced a commercial launch timeline and will compete with Baidu’s Apollo Go, which is also conducting robotaxi testing in London.