Uber and WeRide have expanded their robotaxi service in the United Arab Emirates to include fully autonomous vehicles. Customers in Abu Dhabi can now request an UberX or Uber Comfort ride and be matched with a fully driverless WeRide vehicle within the service area. This marks a significant milestone in the advancement of autonomous transportation technology.
In December 2024, Uber and WeRide initially launched their robotaxi service with safety drivers, and have now progressed to deploying fully autonomous vehicles. The driverless WeRide GXR vehicles, equipped with advanced sensors and cameras, can accommodate up to five passengers and are operating in select locations on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. Customers can choose the ‘Autonomous’ ride option in the Uber app to experience this cutting-edge technology.
Uber manages the fleet operations for WeRide’s robotaxis in partnership with taxi operator Tawasul Transport, handling tasks such as vehicle maintenance, cleaning, and charging. WeRide focuses on vehicle testing and sensor calibration to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the driverless vehicles, which are built on Geely’s Farizon SuperVan platform.
Source: The Verge