Chinese autonomous-driving company Momenta is preparing to deploy robotaxis in Dubai in 2027 as it accelerates an international expansion, Arabian Business reported, citing an interview with Reuters. The Mercedes-Benz-backed startup intends to scale its global autonomous fleet from just over 100 vehicles to several thousand within little more than a year.
Shuo Xie, head of Momenta's robotaxi business, stated that the company expects its vehicle fleet to number in the hundreds by the end of 2026, before reaching several thousand units by the end of 2027. In addition to Dubai, Momenta is targeting further European markets and Japan.
Momenta is already testing autonomous vehicles in Abu Dhabi, as well as in Munich and five cities across China. However, the company has not revealed how many robotaxis it plans to deploy in Dubai, which specific districts they will serve, or whether it has secured a local operational partner.
Founded by a former Microsoft researcher, Momenta operates two core business lines: selling advanced driver-assistance software to automakers and developing fully driverless robotaxis. Its automotive partners include Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, and BYD, placing it in competition with rivals including Alphabet-owned Waymo and Chinese autonomous driving firm Pony.ai.
According to the report, transport authorities in the UAE are using driverless vehicle trials to curb congestion, improve road safety, and reduce the cost of urban mobility. Arabian Business noted that scaling from controlled trials to large commercial fleets remains capital-intensive, with Momenta remaining unprofitable as it continues to invest heavily in research and development.
Sources
- Arabian Business · 2026-09-30
- Gemini News Search — Industry News · 2026-09-30
