Uber and WeRide Introduce First Driverless Robotaxis in Abu Dhabi
In a groundbreaking development for autonomous transportation, Uber in collaboration with Chinese autonomous vehicle company WeRide, have officially launched fully driverless robotaxi services in Abu Dhabi. This marks the first such deployment outside the United States or China.
The service, which became operational on Wednesday, spans a 12-square-mile area of Yas Island. It offers passengers the convenience of hailing completely autonomous rides through the standard Uber app. Users have the option to select UberX or Uber Comfort and may be paired with a WeRide robotaxi. Alternatively, they can choose the new “Autonomous” option to increase their chances of getting a driverless ride.
WeRide’s Level 4 autonomous vans are available from 8am to 10pm daily, with nearly 70 vehicles ready at launch. The vehicles are outfitted with advanced LiDAR, radar, and camera systems. They have been operating with safety drivers since December 2024, before transitioning to fully autonomous operations.
“Today’s fully autonomous launch in Abu Dhabi represents a historic transportation milestone,” stated Sarfraz Maredia, Uber’s head of autonomous mobility and delivery. The companies have plans to expand the service to additional areas in Abu Dhabi’s city center and eventually to 15 cities across the Middle East and Europe.
Source: Bloomberg