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Mercedes to Test S‑Class Level‑4 Robotaxis in Abu Dhabi as Stellantis and Bolt Set 2026 European Trials

Both moves signal a pivot to Level‑4 pilots through cross‑border partnerships with phased rollouts.

Overview

  • Mercedes said it will field S‑Class luxury sedans as SAE Level‑4 shuttles using Momenta software, with Abu Dhabi operations run by local provider Lumo.
  • The company plans near‑term testing in the United Arab Emirates and intends to expand the service to additional locations after the initial phase.
  • Mercedes also cited ongoing collaboration with Nvidia on autonomous driving platforms, complementing its existing Level‑3 Drive Pilot and earlier Level‑4 testing approval in Beijing.
  • Stellantis and Bolt announced a European Level‑4 program combining Stellantis’ AV‑Ready platforms—such as the mid‑size eK0 van and STLA Small—with Bolt’s ride‑hailing network, with tests in selected countries starting in 2026.
  • The partners describe a staged path from prototypes and pilot fleets to industrial scaling with a first production target in 2029, while Bolt projects about 100,000 autonomous vehicles on its platform by 2035 and Waymo plans London service in 2026.