Chinese autonomous driving firms pivot to Europe for trials
Chinese self-driving startups shift to Europe for real-world testing
Chinese autonomous driving firms pivot to Europe for trials
Chinese autonomous driving startups QCraft, Momenta, and DeepRoute.ai pivot to Europe, running Level 4 trials as U.S. market barriers drive expansion abroad
2025-10-06T13:01:23+03:00
2025-10-06T13:01:23+03:00
2025-10-06T13:01:23+03:00
Chinese companies developing autonomous driving technology are rapidly expanding their footprint in Europe after being shut out of the U.S. market. Startups such as QCraft, Momenta, and DeepRoute.ai are opening headquarters in Germany, signing data-processing agreements, and beginning to trial their systems on European roads. The pivot feels measured and timely, the kind of move that keeps momentum without overpromising.In China, more than half of new cars already come with autopilot features, including mass-market models. Beijing is now betting on exports to cement its lead in the global race. QCraft’s chief technology officer, Dong Li, said that Europe had become the priority because it offered a more open environment with fewer restrictions than the United States. Against that backdrop, the choice of Europe reads less like a gamble and more like a calculated route to scale.Momenta and Uber are preparing to launch Level 4 autonomous tests in Munich, while Mercedes-Benz is already trialing a Chinese platform on the CLA electric sedan. Following them, Baidu, WeRide, and Pony.ai are moving onto the continent, seeing Europe as a path to profit beyond China’s saturated home market. The roster underscores how quickly Europe is turning into a proving ground for the latest self-driving stacks, where real-world mileage matters as much as lab metrics.
Chinese autonomous driving startups QCraft, Momenta, and DeepRoute.ai pivot to Europe, running Level 4 trials as U.S. market barriers drive expansion abroad
Michael Powers, Editor
Chinese companies developing autonomous driving technology are rapidly expanding their footprint in Europe after being shut out of the U.S. market. Startups such as QCraft, Momenta, and DeepRoute.ai are opening headquarters in Germany, signing data-processing agreements, and beginning to trial their systems on European roads. The pivot feels measured and timely, the kind of move that keeps momentum without overpromising.
In China, more than half of new cars already come with autopilot features, including mass-market models. Beijing is now betting on exports to cement its lead in the global race. QCraft’s chief technology officer, Dong Li, said that Europe had become the priority because it offered a more open environment with fewer restrictions than the United States. Against that backdrop, the choice of Europe reads less like a gamble and more like a calculated route to scale.
Momenta and Uber are preparing to launch Level 4 autonomous tests in Munich, while Mercedes-Benz is already trialing a Chinese platform on the CLA electric sedan. Following them, Baidu, WeRide, and Pony.ai are moving onto the continent, seeing Europe as a path to profit beyond China’s saturated home market. The roster underscores how quickly Europe is turning into a proving ground for the latest self-driving stacks, where real-world mileage matters as much as lab metrics.
