How Stellantis and Bolt are shaping Europe’s robotaxi ambitions

ADT editorial team ADT editorial team

23 December 2025 - 06:37

2 min

The partners are targeting a flexible vehicle concept that can be adapted to different city requirements and regulatory frameworks across Europe.

Stellantis

Stellantis and Bolt plan to begin testing Level-4 autonomous vehicles in Europe from 2026, with a long-term goal of deploying tens of thousands of robotaxis. Their initiative reflects a broader acceleration of autonomous mobility projects across the continent.

Autonomous mobility is gaining traction across Europe, and Stellantis and Bolt are positioning themselves as central players in the emerging robotaxi landscape. The two companies have announced plans to jointly develop and test Level-4 autonomous vehicles, with pilot operations expected to start in 2026. A larger rollout is envisaged from 2029 onwards.

Bolt, Europe’s largest ride-hailing platform, has outlined a long-term ambition to operate up to 100,000 autonomous vehicles by 2035. The cooperation with Stellantis is intended to lay the technical and operational groundwork for that goal, focusing on scalable shared-mobility services in urban environments.

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Stellantis platforms as the technical backbone

Stellantis will contribute its AV-ready vehicle platforms, including the eK0 van architecture and the broader STLA platform family. These platforms are designed to support full autonomous operation, integrating sensors, high-performance computing and safety systems in a modular setup.

The partners are targeting a flexible vehicle concept that can be adapted to different city requirements and regulatory frameworks across Europe. While the agreement outlines a shared development roadmap, key details — such as specific vehicle configurations and deployment cities — are still subject to further definition and regulatory approval.

Bolt’s parallel push with Pony.ai

Alongside its collaboration with Stellantis, Bolt is also advancing a separate robotaxi initiative with Chinese autonomous driving specialist Pony.ai. This project similarly aims to introduce fully driverless, Level-4 services in selected European cities, with initial deployments planned from 2026.

In this setup, Bolt provides its app-based mobility ecosystem, while Pony.ai supplies the autonomous driving technology. The vehicles are expected to operate without safety drivers, though initially only within clearly defined operational zones. The exact vehicle models have not yet been disclosed, but Pony.ai’s existing fleet includes the Toyota bZ4X as well as vehicles from Chinese manufacturers.

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Autonomous public transport takes shape in Oslo

Autonomous concepts are also moving beyond ride-hailing into public transport. In the Norwegian capital, transport authority Ruter has partnered with Holo and Volkswagen-backed mobility provider Moia to introduce autonomous ID. Buzz vehicles into regular service from spring 2026.

Moia is supplying a turnkey solution that combines electric vehicles with a complete software stack, app integration and operational support. The vehicles are equipped with 360-degree sensor coverage, high-performance computing and in-cabin safety systems tailored to shared, driverless operation.

The project forms part of the EU-funded ULTIMO consortium and builds on an existing pilot in Oslo’s Groruddalen district. Ruter plans to feed insights from real-world operations directly into future transport planning, while Holo contributes operational expertise from previous autonomous deployments in Scandinavia.

A crowded field with regulatory hurdles

Stellantis and Bolt are far from alone in pursuing Level-4 autonomy in Europe. Mercedes-Benz, for example, is advancing its own robotaxi strategy through partnerships with Momenta and local operators, initially testing autonomous S-Class vehicles outside Europe while preparing for broader international expansion.

Despite growing momentum, regulatory complexity remains a major challenge. Legal frameworks for fully driverless vehicles vary widely across European countries, and approvals for urban operation require close coordination with local authorities.

The Stellantis–Bolt cooperation, in particular, is not yet legally binding. Permits, technical standards and contractual details still need to be finalised. Similar coordination is under way in Oslo, where authorities are working to ensure that autonomous services meet safety, data protection and public transport requirements.

What is clear, however, is that Europe’s robotaxi race is accelerating. From ride-hailing fleets to autonomous buses, multiple models are now being tested in parallel — signalling a shift from isolated pilots towards the first steps of scalable autonomous mobility. If current timelines hold, 2026 could mark a breakthrough year for robotaxi deployment — not only in Europe, but globally.