Uber, China's WeRide to launch self-driving robotaxis in UAE
WeRide already operates the largest robotaxi fleet in the UAE, where residents can access its robotaxi services through the TXAI app.
Uber Technologies and WeRide on Wednesday announced that they would bring the Chinese self-driving technology company’s vehicles to the rideshare platform, beginning in the United Arab Emirates.
The joint project will launch first in Abu Dhabi later this year, and several WeRide robotaxis will be made available for consumers using Uber, the San Francisco-headquartered ride-hailing app said in a statement. The rides will be initially available on Saadiyat Island and Yas Island in the Emirati capital, with plans to expand further.
Uber said that after the launch, riders will have the option to book a WeRide self-driving car via the app. Robotaxis use cameras, sensors and lasers to navigate roads, often without the need for human intervention. The number of autonomous vehicles being used in the Uber-WeRide partnership was not disclosed.
The ride-hailing app said the partnership “does not contemplate any launches in the United States or China.”
