WeRide and Uber Deploy Saudi Arabia's First Driverless Taxis, Accelerating Global Autonomous Mobility

WeRide, a leading autonomous driving technology company, is accelerating its global expansion as it partners with Uber Technologies to launch autonomous robotaxi services in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This marks the first public deployment of driverless vehicles on Uber's platform in the Kingdom, a significant step in the company's broader strategy to position itself as a key player in the autonomous mobility sector, according to MarketScreener. The initiative, announced in collaboration with the Saudi Transport General Authority (TGA), aligns with the country's Vision 2030 goals to innovate in smart transportation, according to a Yahoo report.

The service, which began with trips between Roshn Front and Princess Noura University, initially includes a human operator in each vehicle to ensure safety before transitioning to fully driverless operations, as MarketScreener reported. Jennifer Li, WeRide's CFO and head of international, emphasized that the partnership aims to "enhance everyday mobility and help shape the future of safer, greener, and more efficient cities" through advanced autonomous technology, a point also covered by MarketScreener. The launch follows WeRide's receipt of Saudi Arabia's first Robotaxi autonomous driving permit and its successful completion of the TGA's regulatory sandbox for autonomous vehicle testing, as noted in the Yahoo report.

This expansion builds on WeRide's recent collaboration with Grab, which invested in the company to facilitate its entry into Southeast Asia. Grab's mapping technology, GrabMaps, will aid WeRide in studying regional road conditions to ensure safe deployment in the region, as reported by Reuters. The partnership with Grab is part of WeRide's third major ride-hailing alliance, following its collaboration with Lyft in Atlanta and an upcoming rollout with Uber in the U.S. The Southeast Asian venture underscores the growing integration of autonomous driving into existing ride-hailing ecosystems.

WeRide's CEO has acknowledged that while autonomous systems cannot guarantee 100% safety, the technology has the potential to reduce accident rates significantly. According to internal projections, autonomous driving could achieve a 10-fold improvement in safety compared to human drivers within the next decade, according to Simply Wall St. This optimism is rooted in the company's ability to scale partnerships and navigate regulatory frameworks, as seen in its Saudi Arabia and Southeast Asian initiatives. However, challenges remain, including the need to convert pilot projects into sustainable, profitable operations.

The Saudi Arabia launch also highlights the strategic importance of the Middle East in WeRide's global roadmap. Prior to Riyadh, the company expanded its services to Abu Dhabi in late 2024, signaling a phased approach to market entry in the region, as noted in the Yahoo report. Uber's involvement further amplifies the initiative's visibility, with the ride-hailing giant framing the collaboration as a milestone in its commitment to advancing "safer and more sustainable transportation" in the Middle East, as MarketScreener observed.

Industry analysts note that WeRide's ability to secure regulatory approvals and high-profile partnerships is critical to its long-term viability. While the company remains unprofitable, its progress in Saudi Arabia and Southeast Asia provides tangible evidence of its capacity to execute on international expansion plans, according to Simply Wall St. The integration of autonomous vehicles into established platforms like Uber and Grab represents a scalable model for widespread adoption, though profitability will depend on overcoming technical and operational hurdles, as Reuters explained.

As autonomous driving technology continues to evolve, WeRide's initiatives in Riyadh and Southeast Asia underscore the sector's potential to transform urban mobility. The company's focus on safety, regulatory compliance, and strategic alliances positions it to play a pivotal role in the global transition toward driverless transportation.