Uber and Chinese autonomous vehicle maker WeRide have partnered to launch a robotaxi service in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The service will initially feature human safety drivers alongside the WeRide robots to ensure passenger safety. However, Uber aims to offer a fully driverless commercial service by 2025.
The robotaxis will operate on routes between Saadiyat Island and Yas Island, as well as to and from Zayed International Airport. This marks Uber’s expansion into autonomous vehicle rides in Abu Dhabi, following its successful implementation of the service in the US, where it was already facilitating tens of thousands of autonomous vehicle rides per month.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has highlighted the company’s progress in its autonomous strategy, citing partnerships with over a dozen autonomous vehicle companies. However, analyst James Cordwell notes that Uber faces potential “structural risk” from autonomous vehicles and competition from Alphabet-owned Waymo in the US market.
WeRide is listed on the Nasdaq and holds permits for driverless vehicle testing in multiple countries, including Dubai, China, Singapore, and the US. This partnership underscores Uber’s commitment to expanding its autonomous services globally.
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/06/uber-offers-robotaxi-rides-in-abu-dhabi-partnership-with-weride.html