Momenta secures Germany-wide Level 4 autonomous-driving testing approval from KBA, becoming the first Chinese company with such authorization and paving the way for European Robotaxi commercialization.
Historic Breakthrough: First Chinese Company with Nationwide German L4 Permit
Chinese autonomous-driving company Momenta announced on July 29, 2026, that it had received a Germany-wide Level 4 autonomous-driving testing permit from Germany's Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA). This marks the first time a Chinese enterprise has obtained L4 testing authorization covering urban roads across all of Germany. Unlike permits requiring separate applications for each city, the KBA's nationwide authorization allows Momenta to extend its testing program across German urban areas without repeating the full approval process for each location. This gives the company access to a wider range of traffic environments while aligning its safety-validation work with Germany's and the European Union's regulatory frameworks. Key facts:
- Permit type: L4 testing permit (not commercial operation license)
- Coverage: Urban public roads across all of Germany
- Momenta listed on HKEX on July 8, 2026, ticker 6880
- IPO offer price: HK$295.60 per share
- Uber holds approximately 1.19 million shares via SMB Holding Corporation
Momenta's European Footprint: From Partnerships to Deployment
Momenta has spent years building relationships with Germany's automotive industry. Its partners include Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, and Volkswagen Group, providing an established base for developing both production-oriented assisted-driving systems and higher-level autonomous-driving technology. Momenta's L4 mobility platform partners also include:
- Uber — planned L4 Robotaxi testing in Munich starting 2026
- Grab — Southeast Asian mobility platform
- Lumo — European mobility service
Momenta CEO Cao Xudong stated that Germany's rigorous, safety-first regulatory approach sets a global benchmark for autonomous-driving governance. True autonomy depends not merely on "seeing" the road, but on "understanding" it — anticipating how situations unfold. This is the core of Momenta's Physical AI approach.
| Dimension | Momenta Germany Permit | Baidu Apollo Go London | WeRide Europe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Permit level | L4 nationwide urban | L4 public-road testing | L2++ overseas testing |
| Coverage | All of Germany | London | Germany, France, Japan |
| Partners | Uber, Grab, Lumo | Uber, Lyft/Freenow | Bosch |
| Listing | HKEX 6880 | NASDAQ | NASDAQ |
Clarifying the Permit: Testing ≠ Commercial Operation
The KBA testing permit is not general type approval, authorization for unrestricted driverless operation, or a commercial passenger-service license. Nor does it automatically apply elsewhere in the EU. Its significance lies instead in:
- Allowing Momenta to validate its system across a wider range of German urban environments under a single federal testing framework
- Generating European road data for AI model training
- Building compliance evidence for future operating-area applications
Commercial Robotaxi services still require: further approvals, local operating partners, technical supervision, and evidence that the system performs safely under European traffic conditions. Momenta's Robotaxi technology is currently undergoing testing or pilot deployment in Shanghai, Suzhou, Wuxi, Shenzhen, Munich, and Abu Dhabi. Regulatory permissions, use of safety personnel, and availability to paying passengers differ substantially by city.
Chinese AV Going Global: From Permit to Profit
Momenta's German permit is a meaningful regulatory milestone for Chinese autonomous-driving companies, but its importance should not be overstated. The broader test is whether Chinese AV companies can convert overseas permits into repeatable commercial deployments. EX1000.COM analysis suggests Momenta has now secured a stronger platform for that process in Germany. What follows — rather than the testing permit alone — will determine whether the company can move from international validation to a durable European mobility business. For observers in Central Asia and Russia, the globalization path of Chinese intelligent-driving technology offers valuable reference: technical standards and regulatory compliance are equally critical.
