WeRide gets permit for driverless robotaxis in Abu Dhabi

WeRide Inc. (NASDAQ: WRD) received a permit to operate fully autonomous robotaxis without safety drivers in Abu Dhabi, making it one of the first companies to secure a city-level commercial permit for Level 4 autonomous driving outside the United States.

The permit, granted on October 31, authorizes WeRide's robotaxis to operate commercially without onboard safety drivers. Commercial operations will begin on the Uber and TXAI platforms in Abu Dhabi, according to a company statement.

WeRide has operated robotaxis with TXAI in Abu Dhabi since 2021. In December 2024, the company launched a robotaxi partnership with Uber in the emirate, which expanded in July to cover approximately half of Abu Dhabi's core areas, including Al Reem and Al Maryah.

As of October, WeRide robotaxis have accumulated close to one million kilometers in Abu Dhabi. The company stated the new permit enables its robotaxi services in Abu Dhabi to achieve financial breakeven on unit economics by removing the requirement for an in-vehicle safety officer.

WeRide received the UAE's first national license for self-driving vehicles in July 2023, authorizing autonomous testing and operation on public roads across the country, subject to emirate-level approvals. The company has been conducting fully driverless robotaxi testing in Abu Dhabi since the second quarter of this year.

The company plans to expand its Middle East fleet to 1,000 robotaxis by 2026 and deploy tens of thousands by 2030. WeRide and its partners plan to extend services to cover most of Abu Dhabi city core by the end of 2025.

WeRide operates autonomous vehicles in over 30 cities across 11 countries and holds autonomous driving permits in seven markets including China, the UAE, Singapore, France, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, and the United States.

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