WeRide Secures World's First City-level Fully Driverless Robotaxi Permit Outside the U.S.

Core Insights - WeRide has received a city-level commercial permit for fully driverless Robotaxi operations in Abu Dhabi, making it the first international company to achieve this milestone in the UAE [1][2][4] - The permit allows WeRide's Robotaxis to operate without an on-board safety driver, enabling the company to achieve financial breakeven on unit economics [6][8] - WeRide plans to expand its fleet to 1,000 Robotaxis in the Middle East by 2026 and aims to deploy tens of thousands by 2030 [9] Company Developments - The permit was granted on October 31, 2025, following a thorough evaluation process and the completion of a rigorous testing phase [2][4][3] - WeRide has been operating Robotaxis in Abu Dhabi since 2021 and launched a partnership with Uber in December 2024, which is the largest commercial Robotaxi service outside the U.S. and China [5][10] - As of October 2025, WeRide Robotaxis have accumulated close to one million kilometers in Abu Dhabi [6] Industry Context - WeRide is recognized as a global leader in autonomous driving technology, having tested or operated vehicles in over 30 cities across 11 countries [10] - The company is the first publicly traded Robotaxi company and has received autonomous driving permits in seven markets, including the UAE [10]