Expanding Partnership for Autonomous Vehicles: Uber and WeRide Set to Introduce Self-Driving Cars in an Additional 15 Cities
In a significant move towards realizing the promise of autonomous mobility, Uber Technologies Inc. and WeRide have announced an expansion of their strategic partnership. Over the next five years, the companies plan to deploy autonomous vehicle (AV) services in 15 additional cities worldwide.
The partnership, which aligns with Uber's broader strategy of collaborating with multiple autonomous driving technology providers, aims to make autonomous mobility a global reality. Tony Han, founder and CEO of WeRide, announced the expanded partnership.
WeRide, a global leader and first mover in the autonomous driving industry, operates in over 30 cities across 10 countries. The company's ambitious strategy for global growth aims to make autonomous driving solutions more affordable and accessible to people worldwide.
The 15 new cities will be part of a multi-year strategic agreement between Uber and WeRide to deploy autonomous vehicle services on Uber’s platform. The expansion builds on WeRide’s existing robotaxi services currently active in Abu Dhabi and Dubai and aims to broaden their footprint particularly in Asia and the Middle East starting later this year.
Confirmed locations where WeRide and Uber already have or will soon have autonomous operations include Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Riyadh. The focus regions for the expansion include major urban centers across Asia, the Middle East, and possibly Europe.
Uber's initial goal was to solve the problem of accessing a ride at the touch of a button. The company's platform, which opens up new possibilities for the world, will now enable riders in these new cities to experience the convenience of autonomous mobility.
Uber believes that by leveraging its global scale, operational expertise, and leading marketplace technology, it can partner with cutting-edge AV companies like WeRide to help them commercialize their vehicles and bring the benefits of autonomy to more riders.
The expansion includes cities in Europe, with the exact names of all 15 cities remaining undisclosed in the current information. If detailed city names become available, they will most likely be announced through future official press releases by Uber and WeRide.
Uber will be responsible for fleet operations in these cities, while WeRide's platform, WeRide One, is smart, versatile, cost-effective, and highly adaptable. The company provides autonomous driving products and services for a variety of transportation needs.
The partnership supports Uber’s sustainability commitment, aiming for fully electric rides in North America and Europe by 2030 and globally by 2040. Uber is working on products to get people closer to their desired locations, aiming to change how people, food, and things move through cities.
Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber, stated that the partnership is a significant milestone towards realizing the promise of autonomous mobility in more places around the world. WeRide, with its driverless permits in China, the UAE, Singapore, France, and the US, is poised to play a crucial role in this expansion.
The expansion of Uber and WeRide's partnership is a testament to their shared vision of making autonomous mobility a reality for people worldwide, making travel more efficient, sustainable, and accessible.
The partnership between Uber and WeRide, aiming to make autonomous mobility a global reality, will utilize Uber's technology platform to deploy autonomous vehicle services in 15 additional cities, including those in Europe, over the next five years. This expansion is supported by WeRide's technology, known for its cost-effectiveness and versatility, as demonstrated by their driverless permits in various countries.
