Articles tagged with "WeRide"
Uber and WeRide ramp up robotaxi operations in Dubai
Uber and Chinese autonomous vehicle company WeRide have launched fully driverless robotaxi services in Dubai, marking a significant expansion of autonomous mobility in the Middle East. Riders can now book these robotaxis via the Uber app, with operations covering commercial, industrial, suburban, and maritime districts such as Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai Investment Park Second, Jabal Ali Industrial First, and Al Hamriya Port. The service is operated locally by Tawasul, a UAE-based mobility and fleet operator. This launch follows a pilot program initiated in December, which featured human safety operators and free rides. The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority recently granted a driverless vehicle trial permit, enabling the companies to operate without onboard safety drivers. This deployment highlights WeRide’s growing presence in the region and Uber’s ongoing investment in autonomous vehicle technology. Uber holds a 5.82% stake in WeRide, valued at approximately $150 million based on recent stock prices, following a $100 million investment last year. The partnership model mirrors
robotautonomous-vehiclesrobotaxiUberWeRidedriverless-technologymobility-innovationUber increases stake in WeRide as robotaxi partnership ramps up in Dubai
Uber and Chinese autonomous vehicle company WeRide have launched fully driverless robotaxi services in Dubai, allowing riders to book rides through Uber’s app in various commercial, industrial, suburban, and maritime districts. This marks a significant step up from their initial December pilot, which featured human safety operators and free rides. The deployment follows the UAE government’s Roads and Transport Authority granting a driverless vehicle trial permit last month, signaling regulatory support for autonomous mobility in the region. The service is operated locally by Tawasul, a UAE-based mobility and fleet operator. Concurrently, Uber has increased its equity stake in WeRide to 5.82%, valued at approximately $400 million, reflecting its deepening commitment to the partnership and the broader expansion of robotaxi services. This collaboration, initiated in May 2025, aims to extend WeRide’s autonomous vehicle operations to 15 additional cities worldwide over five years, including locations in Europe. The partnership model mirrors Uber’s arrangement with Waymo, where Uber manages
robotautonomous-vehiclesrobotaxiUberWeRidedriverless-technologymobilityGeely & WeRide Planning 2,000 Robotaxis for This Year - CleanTechnica
Chinese automotive giant Geely, in partnership with self-driving technology company WeRide, plans to deploy 2,000 robotaxis this year, marking a significant scale-up in autonomous taxi services. The bulk of this deployment will be under Geely’s Farizon brand, which will utilize WeRide’s upgraded GXR robotaxi equipped with the GEN8 autonomous driving suite and Sensor Suite 8.0 platform. This system features a lidar capable of detecting objects up to 600 meters away—two to three times farther than many existing solutions—enhancing early hazard detection and safety in high-speed scenarios. Additionally, Farizon aims to drastically reduce vehicle assembly time from one hour to just 10 minutes, targeting a 15% reduction in vehicle costs. WeRide currently operates robotaxis in multiple locations and plans further expansion in the coming years. This initiative is part of a broader trend in 2024, where several companies are accelerating the rollout and scaling of robotaxi services following early testing phases.
robotautonomous-vehiclesrobotaxilidar-technologyGeelyWeRideautonomous-drivingUber Expands Robotaxi Service to Downtown Abu Dhabi with WeRide - CleanTechnica
Uber and WeRide have expanded their commercial driverless robotaxi service into downtown Abu Dhabi, now covering about 70% of the city’s core areas, up from 50% since their initial launch in December 2024. The fleet has quadrupled in size, with WeRide operating over 200 robotaxis across the Middle East. The expanded service covers key locations including Khalifa City, Masdar City, Rabdan, and routes between Corniche Road and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, serving major landmarks and prominent hotels. This expansion is in partnership with Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Transport Centre (ITC). WeRide has a four-year lead in autonomous vehicle deployment in Abu Dhabi, having operated robotaxis since 2021. In 2023, it became the first UAE company to receive a national license for all types of self-driving vehicles, allowing autonomous testing and operations on public roads nationwide, subject to local approvals. The Uber-WeRide partnership launched the largest commercial robotaxi service outside the
robotautonomous-vehiclesrobotaxiUberWeRidedriverless-technologysmart-transportationMore Robotaxi + Ride-Hailing Partnerships - CleanTechnica
Recent developments highlight expanding partnerships between robotaxi companies and ride-hailing platforms across major global cities. Baidu is collaborating with Uber and Lyft to introduce its Apollo Go autonomous vehicle system in London, with testing slated for the first half of 2026 pending regulatory approval. Baidu, noted as the world’s largest autonomous vehicle operator, plans to deploy a hybrid network of fully electric, purpose-built RT6 robotaxis alongside human drivers to serve London’s travel needs. This initiative aligns with Transport for London’s regulatory framework and aims to scale from dozens to hundreds of vehicles, enhancing the city’s mobility options. In Abu Dhabi, WeRide and Uber have launched a fully driverless robotaxi service, marking the first city-level fully driverless permit outside the U.S. and the Middle East’s inaugural deployment of such technology. The service operates commercially on Yas Island, accessible via Uber Comfort, UberX, and a new “Autonomous” ride category. WeRide secured federal permits in October 2025,
robotautonomous-vehiclesrobotaxiride-hailingBaidu-ApolloWeRideUberUber and WeRide’s robotaxi service in Abu Dhabi is officially driverless
A year after launching a robotaxi service in Abu Dhabi, Chinese autonomous vehicle company WeRide and Uber have officially transitioned to fully driverless operations, eliminating the need for a human safety operator. The commercial service is now open to the public, initially operating on Yas Island, a key tourist area that includes the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Formula 1 circuit. Riders using Uber Comfort or UberX in Abu Dhabi may be matched with a WeRide robotaxi, and there is an “Autonomous” option in the Uber app to increase the likelihood of receiving a fully autonomous vehicle. This launch follows WeRide’s recent acquisition of a federal permit from the UAE for fully driverless commercial robotaxi operations and involves collaboration with fleet operator Tawasul. Plans are underway to expand the driverless service to additional parts of Abu Dhabi’s city center. This deployment marks a significant milestone as the first fully autonomous vehicle (AV) service outside the U.S. and China, according to Uber’s head of autonomous mobility, Sar
robotautonomous-vehiclesrobotaxiself-driving-technologyUberWeRidetransportation-technologyWeRide Robotaxi Service Coming to Singapore - CleanTechnica
Chinese autonomous vehicle company WeRide is set to launch its robotaxi service in Singapore, marking the first such service to serve residential areas in the city-state. The service, named Ai.R (Autonomously Intelligent Ride), will operate initially with a fleet of 11 vehicles, including the Robotaxi GXR, which accommodates up to five passengers, and the Robobus, which can carry up to eight passengers. The launch is in collaboration with Grab, a major ride-hailing company, and will feature Grab safety operators onboard as the service begins. In addition to this expansion, WeRide recently joined the Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index, aiming to increase its visibility and attract more investment. The company’s stock was listed on Nasdaq on October 25, 2024. This move aligns with WeRide’s broader strategy of growth and partnerships in the autonomous driving sector, as evidenced by its recent collaboration with Autonomous A2Z. The Singapore launch represents a significant step in the global proliferation of robotaxi services,
robotautonomous-vehiclesrobotaxiAItransportation-technologySingaporeWeRideUber & WeRide Expanding Robotaxi Partnership to 15 More Cities
robotrobotaxiautonomous-vehiclesWeRideUbertransportation-technologysmart-citiesUber investing $100M into WeRide to bring robotaxis to 15 cities
robotrobotaxiautonomous-vehiclesWeRideUbermobilitytransportationUber invests $100M in WeRide to fuel robotaxi expansion across 15 more cities
robotrobotaxiautonomous-vehiclesWeRideUbertransportationinvestmentUber and WeRide set their robotaxi sights on 15 more cities
robotrobotaxiautonomous-vehiclestransportation-technologyUberWeRidefleet-operations