20:00 15-06-2026

Momenta vs Tesla: how China's quiet supplier took 65% of the urban autopilot market

Urban NOA is moving from premium trim to mainstream, and Momenta now supplies most of China's biggest carmakers — and nine of the world's top ten.

China's self-driving market is hitting the point where urban navigation stops being a luxury toy for top trims. According to CIC's “Blue Book,” new energy vehicles reached 54% of the Chinese market in 2025, and urban NOA is becoming the next feature buyers expect — right alongside a big screen and fast charging.

CIC estimates urban NOA penetration in China at 11% in 2025. By 2030 the figure could climb to 62%. The mass segment shifts the most: in cars priced at 100–200 thousand yuan, NOA penetration is forecast to grow from 3.8% to 62.7%. In the 200–400 thousand yuan bracket — from 27.2% to 97%, and above 400 thousand yuan — from 29.6% to 89.8%.

Against this backdrop, Momenta looks like the main beneficiary among independent suppliers. Between March 2025 and February 2026, its share of the third-party urban NOA market reached 65%. The company works with most major Chinese automakers, and among the world's ten largest auto groups, nine already have projects with it. Momenta's production-ready solutions have shipped in more than 10 countries across Asia, Europe and Oceania.

The race is no longer just about algorithms. CIC explicitly notes that competition has shifted toward turning software into a mass product: deliveries, integration with different platforms, cost, data and post-launch support. That makes it harder for late entrants to catch the leaders with a single strong release — they need an entire production system.

The Robotaxi, Robovan and Robotruck markets are growing in parallel. By 2030 the global Robotaxi market could reach $81.8 billion, with the Chinese share at $38.1 billion. The Robovan forecast is even higher: $85 billion globally and $53.5 billion in China. Robotruck is more cautious — $33 billion globally and $16.5 billion in China.

Urban NOA is turning into a new normal: first the enthusiasts talk about it, then everyone starts asking for it, and after that a car without it just looks dated.