Munich taxi operator plans fleet of up to 500 Tensor robotaxis
The proposed German rollout requires final agreements and Level 4 approval, while MTZ would retain its brand and control over customers and data.
Münchner Taxi Zentrum (MTZ), Munich’s largest taxi operator, plans to deploy as many as 500 autonomous vehicles supplied by US company Tensor across German cities. The companies announced a letter of intent on October 27 at the Madrid Autonomous Mobility Summit.
The deployment remains conditional on final agreements and German approval for Level 4 autonomous driving, which allows vehicles to operate without a driver under specified conditions. MTZ CEO Gregor Beiner said the company would introduce the vehicles in Munich under its own name, while professional drivers would remain indispensable.
The proposed arrangement leaves MTZ in control of its customers, fleet and data, with passengers using its current dispatch system to book rides. Tensor would sell its Robocar vehicles and charge subscription fees covering autonomous-driving software, fleet management tools and support. Financial institutions would provide fleet financing.
Beyond the German fleet, the partners aim to place an additional 10,000 Robocars with taxi and fleet operators across Europe during the 24 months following the vehicle’s European availability. They also intend to explore sales to private customers in Germany. Tensor said it selected MTZ because of its relationships with regulators and its authorization for commercial operations. MTZ has operated in Munich for more than 40 years.
