Uber has launched its first international robotaxi service in collaboration with Guangzhou-based autonomous vehicle (AV) startup WeRide. This milestone reflects Uber's ongoing efforts to integrate a variety of autonomous vehicles into its platform worldwide. Uber users in Abu Dhabi can book a ride with a WeRide autonomous vehicle. While the service still includes safety drivers, the companies plan to shift to fully driverless operations by 2025. Ride fares for these autonomous vehicles will match the rates of UberX and Uber Comfort, ensuring competitive pricing for customers.

Partnership strengthened by UAE support

The collaboration builds on a partnership announced in September 2023. WeRide, a company with permits to operate autonomous vehicles in multiple countries, has been active in Abu Dhabi under the TXAI app. The UAE government has been instrumental in fostering autonomous vehicle adoption, granting WeRide its first permit to test and operate on public roads in July 2023.

WeRide's global footprint and IPO

WeRide, founded in 2017 in Silicon Valley and later incorporated in the Cayman Islands, focuses on developing autonomous technology for cars, shuttles, and freight vehicles. Despite delays in its IPO, the company went public in the US in October 2024 with a valuation of $5 billion. While Uber has no immediate plans to expand its partnership with WeRide beyond the UAE, the initiative highlights Abu Dhabi's commitment to smart city innovation and Uber's vision for a driverless future.