WeRide, a Chinese autonomous driving technology company, and Uber Technologies recently announced a strategic partnership to bring WeRide’s autonomous vehicles onto the Uber platform, beginning in the UAE.
Andrew Macdonald, senior vice president of mobility and business operations of Uber, and Hua Zhong, senior vice president of WeRide, recently signed the agreement. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi and WeRide founder and CEO Tony Han also witnessed the agreement signing.
China’s WeRide expands reach
“Together, we aim to combine our collective experience and expertise to deliver affordable, sustainable, and safe mobility solutions to a global audience,” stated Han.
The two companies will likely launch the robotaxi service first in Abu Dhabi later this year. Customers will be able to access a number of WeRide vehicles using the Uber app. After the launch, when a rider requests a qualifying ride on the Uber app, they may see the option to have their trip fulfilled by a WeRide autonomous vehicle.
Notably, WeRide is a global leader and a first mover in the autonomous driving industry. With a smart, versatile, cost-effective, and highly adaptable platform, WeRide provides autonomous driving products and services from L2 to L4. With that, the company addresses the vast majority of transportation needs on open roads. This includes the mobility, logistics, and sanitation industries.
“It’s clear that the future of mobility will be increasingly shared, electric, and autonomous. We look forward to working with leading AV companies like WeRide to help bring the benefits of autonomous technology to cities around the world,” added Khosrowshahi.
Read: Sharjah operates first phase of electric bus rides
WeRide receives first national license for self-driving vehicles
WeRide currently operates the largest robotaxi fleet in the UAE, where residents can access its services through the TXAI app.
In addition, in July 2023, WeRide received the UAE’s first and only national license for self-driving vehicles. This enabled the company to test and operate its autonomous vehicles on public roads across the entire country.
Uber recently expanded its partnership with Alphabet’s Waymo to bring robotaxis to Austin and Atlanta in the U.S. The company also partnered with Cruise, General Motors’ robotaxi unit, in August to offer autonomous vehicles on the platform starting next year.
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