Uber rolls out driverless robotaxis in Abu Dhabi

Core Insights - Uber has launched fully driverless rides in Abu Dhabi, marking the first driverless robotaxi service in the Middle East [1] - The service is offered in partnership with WeRide, a Chinese autonomous vehicle company, expanding Uber's autonomous vehicle technology initiatives [3] Group 1: Service Launch - The driverless robotaxi service in Abu Dhabi allows riders to book a WeRide robotaxi when requesting an UberX or Uber Comfort ride [2] - The service operates in specific areas of Yas Island, and riders can increase their chances of getting a robotaxi by selecting the autonomous option [5] Group 2: Partnerships and Expansion - Uber formed a partnership with WeRide in September 2024, and began offering autonomous rides with an operator in Abu Dhabi in December [3] - Uber plans to expand the WeRide service to 15 more cities, including locations in Europe, over the next five years [3] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Competitors like Lyft are also adopting autonomous vehicle technology, with a deal announced with Waymo to launch robotaxis in Nashville next year [5] - Uber has previously launched robotaxi services in Austin, Atlanta, and Phoenix, indicating a broader strategy in the autonomous vehicle market [4]