In a major leap for autonomous transportation in the region, Chinese AV technology firm WeRide and its partner Uber have officially launched a fully driverless commercial robotaxi service in Abu Dhabi. The move comes one year after the partners first introduced their commercial service with human safety operators.
The new driverless service is now open to the public, initially operating with routes on Yas Island, the capital’s prominent tourist and entertainment district.
A Milestone for Autonomous Mobility
This launch marks a significant milestone, representing the first commercial deployment of a fully driverless autonomous vehicle service outside of the United States or China. The development follows WeRide securing a federal permit from the United Arab Emirates last month to conduct driverless commercial operations.
“Today’s fully autonomous launch in Abu Dhabi represents a historic transportation milestone, as the first driverless AV deployment outside of the U.S. or China,” stated Sarfraz Maredia, Uber’s head of autonomous mobility and delivery.
How to Ride in Abu Dhabi
Uber users in Abu Dhabi booking an Uber Comfort or UberX may be matched with a WeRide robotaxi. For those eager to experience the future of mobility, riders can select the dedicated “Autonomous” option within the Uber app to increase their chances of securing a driverless vehicle.
The service is operated in collaboration with local fleet partner Tawasul, mirroring Uber’s successful partnership model with Waymo in Austin, Texas.
Regional and Global Expansion Plans
Following the successful launch on Yas Island, Uber and WeRide plan to expand the driverless service to cover more areas within Abu Dhabi’s city center. This is part of a larger ambition to scale operations across the Middle East and Europe.
The partners have previously announced plans to expand to 15 cities across the two regions, aiming to grow their fleet from the current 150 robotaxis to several thousand. This aligns with Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi’s goal to have autonomous vehicles on the Uber network in at least 10 cities by the end of 2026, with Dubai also on the roadmap for future expansion.
About WeRide
WeRide is a leading global company that develops Level 4 autonomous driving technologies. The company is committed to developing safe and reliable driverless solutions to make mobility and transportation services safer, more affordable, and accessible. WeRide is conducting autonomous driving R&D, tests, and operations in over 30 cities worldwide.
Source: TechCrunch
