WeRide and Uber Expand Robotaxi Reach in Abu Dhabi, Ride Volumes Expected to Double
WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD) and Uber (NYSE: UBER) have expanded their Robotaxi operations to Al Reem and Al Maryah Islands in Abu Dhabi, marking a significant expansion of their autonomous vehicle service. The expansion is expected to double ride volumes, now covering approximately half of Abu Dhabi's core areas.
Since launching in December 2024, the fleet has tripled in size and operates the largest Robotaxi network in the Middle East. The service utilizes WeRide's new GXR model, accommodating up to five passengers. Both companies plan to expand their fleet to hundreds of Robotaxis and extend services to Khalifa City, Masdar City, and downtown Abu Dhabi later this year.
Fully driverless testing is currently underway, with public access anticipated in the coming months. Passengers can access the service through the Uber and TXAI apps.
WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD) e Uber (NYSE: UBER) hanno ampliato le loro operazioni di Robotaxi alle isole Al Reem e Al Maryah ad Abu Dhabi, segnando una significativa espansione del loro servizio di veicoli autonomi. Questa espansione dovrebbe raddoppiare il volume delle corse, coprendo ora circa la metà delle aree principali di Abu Dhabi.
Dall'avvio a dicembre 2024, la flotta è triplicata di dimensioni e gestisce la più grande rete di Robotaxi del Medio Oriente. Il servizio utilizza il nuovo modello GXR di WeRide, che può ospitare fino a cinque passeggeri. Entrambe le aziende prevedono di ampliare la flotta a centinaia di Robotaxi ed estendere i servizi a Khalifa City, Masdar City e il centro di Abu Dhabi entro la fine dell'anno.
Attualmente sono in corso test completamente senza conducente, con l'accesso pubblico previsto nei prossimi mesi. I passeggeri possono utilizzare il servizio tramite le app Uber e TXAI.
WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD) y Uber (NYSE: UBER) han ampliado sus operaciones de Robotaxi a las islas Al Reem y Al Maryah en Abu Dhabi, marcando una expansión significativa de su servicio de vehículos autónomos. Se espera que esta expansión duplique el volumen de viajes, cubriendo ahora aproximadamente la mitad de las áreas centrales de Abu Dhabi.
Desde su lanzamiento en diciembre de 2024, la flota se ha triplicado en tamaño y opera la red de Robotaxi más grande de Oriente Medio. El servicio utiliza el nuevo modelo GXR de WeRide, que puede acomodar hasta cinco pasajeros. Ambas compañías planean ampliar su flota a cientos de Robotaxis y extender los servicios a Khalifa City, Masdar City y el centro de Abu Dhabi a finales de este año.
Actualmente se están realizando pruebas totalmente autónomas, con acceso público previsto en los próximos meses. Los pasajeros pueden acceder al servicio a través de las aplicaciones Uber y TXAI.
WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD)와 Uber (NYSE: UBER)가 아부다비의 알 리임과 알 마리야 섬으로 로보택시 운영을 확장하며 자율주행 차량 서비스의 중요한 확장을 이루었습니다. 이번 확장으로 탑승 건수가 두 배로 증가할 것으로 예상되며, 현재 아부다비 핵심 지역의 약 절반을 커버하게 됩니다.
2024년 12월 서비스 시작 이후, 차량 수는 세 배로 증가했으며 중동에서 가장 큰 로보택시 네트워크를 운영하고 있습니다. 이 서비스는 최대 다섯 명이 탑승 가능한 WeRide의 신형 GXR 모델을 사용합니다. 양사는 올해 말까지 차량을 수백 대로 확대하고 칼리파 시티, 마스다르 시티, 아부다비 도심까지 서비스 범위를 넓힐 계획입니다.
현재 완전 무인 테스트가 진행 중이며, 향후 몇 달 내에 일반인도 이용할 수 있을 것으로 예상됩니다. 승객들은 Uber와 TXAI 앱을 통해 서비스를 이용할 수 있습니다.
WeRide (NASDAQ : WRD) et Uber (NYSE : UBER) ont étendu leurs opérations de Robotaxi aux îles Al Reem et Al Maryah à Abu Dhabi, marquant une expansion significative de leur service de véhicules autonomes. Cette extension devrait doubler le volume des courses, couvrant désormais environ la moitié des zones centrales d'Abu Dhabi.
Depuis son lancement en décembre 2024, la flotte a triplé de taille et exploite le plus grand réseau de Robotaxis au Moyen-Orient. Le service utilise le nouveau modèle GXR de WeRide, pouvant accueillir jusqu'à cinq passagers. Les deux entreprises prévoient d'étendre leur flotte à plusieurs centaines de Robotaxis et d'élargir les services à Khalifa City, Masdar City et le centre-ville d'Abu Dhabi d'ici la fin de l'année.
Des tests entièrement sans conducteur sont actuellement en cours, avec un accès public prévu dans les prochains mois. Les passagers peuvent accéder au service via les applications Uber et TXAI.
WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD) und Uber (NYSE: UBER) haben ihre Robotaxi-Dienste auf die Inseln Al Reem und Al Maryah in Abu Dhabi ausgeweitet, was eine bedeutende Erweiterung ihres autonomen Fahrzeugsservices darstellt. Durch diese Erweiterung wird erwartet, dass sich das Fahrtenvolumen verdoppelt und nun etwa die Hälfte der zentralen Bereiche Abu Dhabis abdeckt.
Seit dem Start im Dezember 2024 hat sich die Flotte verdreifacht und betreibt das größte Robotaxi-Netzwerk im Nahen Osten. Der Service nutzt das neue GXR-Modell von WeRide, das bis zu fünf Passagiere aufnehmen kann. Beide Unternehmen planen, ihre Flotte auf mehrere hundert Robotaxis auszubauen und den Service später in diesem Jahr auf Khalifa City, Masdar City und die Innenstadt von Abu Dhabi auszudehnen.
Derzeit laufen Tests mit vollständig fahrerlosen Fahrzeugen, der öffentliche Zugang wird in den kommenden Monaten erwartet. Passagiere können den Service über die Apps von Uber und TXAI nutzen.
- Expansion expected to double ride volumes in Abu Dhabi
- Fleet has tripled in size since December 2024 launch
- Largest Robotaxi network in the Middle East
- Plans to expand to hundreds of Robotaxis and new areas
- Fully driverless testing underway with public access coming soon
- None.
Insights
WeRide's Robotaxi expansion in Abu Dhabi with Uber demonstrates accelerating commercial deployment and revenue growth potential for autonomous mobility.
This expansion to Al Reem and Al Maryah Islands represents a significant scaling milestone for WeRide's commercial operations. The company is now covering approximately half of Abu Dhabi's core areas, including strategic locations like Al Reem, Al Maryah, Yas, and Saadiyat Islands, plus airport routes.
The tripling of fleet size since the December 2024 launch demonstrates strong operational execution. Each GXR Robotaxi is designed to handle dozens of trips daily during 12-hour shifts, with typical rides exceeding 6 kilometers - suggesting substantial revenue-generating capacity per vehicle.
WeRide's purpose-built GXR model deserves particular attention as it's specifically designed for mass production and commercial deployment - a critical differentiator in the autonomous vehicle space where many competitors still rely on retrofitted conventional vehicles. The five-passenger capacity maximizes utilization efficiency.
The expansion to Al Reem and Al Maryah is strategically valuable not just for volume but for technical validation. These areas present complex urban environments with dense traffic patterns, providing WeRide valuable operational data while showcasing their technological capabilities.
Fully driverless testing currently underway represents the next frontier for profitability, as removing safety drivers significantly improves unit economics. The planned public access to fully driverless vehicles "in the coming months" would position WeRide among the small group of companies operating commercial driverless services globally.
The partnership structure with Uber and Abu Dhabi's Integrated Transport Centre provides WeRide both operational support and regulatory backing - critical advantages in this highly regulated industry.
From a business perspective, this expansion signals accelerating commercialization of WeRide's autonomous technology. The expected doubling of ride volumes suggests significant revenue growth potential, while the commitment to expand the fleet to "hundreds of Robotaxis" indicates confidence in market demand and operational capabilities.
The partnership with Uber creates a powerful market-entry strategy, leveraging Uber's established user base and platform while WeRide provides the specialized autonomous technology. This collaborative approach helps overcome the chicken-and-egg problem that plagues many mobility startups - needing both vehicles and users to achieve viable economics.
Operating in Abu Dhabi provides strategic advantages: a supportive regulatory environment, concentrated urban density, predictable weather conditions, and wealthy consumers willing to pay premium prices for innovative services. These factors create an ideal testbed before expanding to more challenging markets.
The integration with multiple booking platforms (both Uber and TXAI apps) maximizes customer accessibility while building WeRide's brand recognition. The expansion to finance and commercial districts targets high-value customers likely to become repeat users.
WeRide's focus on purpose-built vehicles rather than retrofitting existing cars demonstrates commitment to long-term unit economics. The GXR model's design for mass production suggests WeRide is positioning for scale rather than merely testing technology concepts.
The planned expansion to additional areas later this year (Khalifa City, Masdar City, downtown Abu Dhabi) indicates a phased rollout strategy that allows for operational learning and iterative improvement before wider deployment - a disciplined approach to scaling that balances growth with operational stability.
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, July 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD), a global leader in autonomous driving technology, and Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: UBER), the world’s leading technology platform for mobility and delivery, have started operating their Robotaxis on Al Reem and Al Maryah Islands in Abu Dhabi, in partnership with the Integrated Transport Centre. The expanded service is expected to double ride volumes, now covering about half of Abu Dhabi's core areas — including Al Reem, Al Maryah, Yas, and Saadiyat, as well as highway routes to and from Zayed International Airport.
Since launching in Abu Dhabi in December 2024, the WeRide and Uber Robotaxi fleet has tripled in size. Both companies aim to continue growing their fleet to hundreds of Robotaxis in Abu Dhabi, with plans to extend services into Khalifa City, Masdar City, and more areas of downtown Abu Dhabi later this year.
WeRide and Uber operate the largest Robotaxi network in the Middle East, featuring WeRide's new GXR model — a purpose-built, mass-produced autonomous vehicle for scaled commercial deployment which fits up to five people. Each vehicle is expected to average dozens of trips per day during a 12-hour shift, with rides typically exceeding six kilometers.
"Al Reem and Al Maryah Islands are high-demand areas and serve as key gateways to Abu Dhabi. This expansion gives us the opportunity to reach more passengers, showcase our advanced technology in complex urban settings, and further accelerate the deployment of autonomous vehicles across the city. We deeply appreciate the ongoing support from the Integrated Transport Centre and our strong partnership with Uber, which continues to drive our growth in the Middle East and beyond," said Jennifer Li, CFO and Head of International at WeRide.
"This expansion marks an important milestone in Abu Dhabi’s journey towards realising its vision for a smarter and safer mobility system. Building on the success of our previous smart mobility initiatives, we are working to extend the deployment of autonomous vehicles to high-density areas such as Al Reem and Al Maryah Islands, in order to provide a safer and more efficient travel experience, in line with Abu Dhabi’s smart transport strategy, which aims to provide sustainable and innovative mobility solutions,” said Dr Abdulla Hamad AlGhfeli, Acting Director General of the Integrated Transport Centre. "We are committed to embracing innovative and sustainable solutions to enhance our transport network and improve the quality of life for our residents. By working closely with our strategic partners, we are accelerating this progress and enhancing the transport experience for everyone."
"We’re pleased to expand our autonomous vehicle service in Abu Dhabi to Al Reem and Al Maryah in partnership with WeRide and with the support of the Abu Dhabi Mobility. We’ve seen some great engagement from riders in Abu Dhabi since launch and are excited to make autonomous rides more accessible to even more people in the Emirate. Just as Uber helped millions experience electric vehicles for the first time, 2025 will be the year we bring AV technology into the mainstream," said Mohamad Jardaneh, Head of Autonomous Mobility, Middle East at Uber.
Starting today, passengers can hail WeRide Robotaxis in the new zones via the Uber and TXAI apps.
Al Reem and Al Maryah are among Abu Dhabi's most dynamic and densely populated districts, serving as hubs for finance, residential communities, and commerce. Their heavy traffic and complex road conditions highlight WeRide's technical expertise in deploying autonomous vehicles at scale, while advancing Abu Dhabi's vision to become the region's leading hub for smart mobility and innovation.
In parallel, fully driverless testing of WeRide's Robotaxis in Abu Dhabi is underway, with public access expected in the coming months.
About WeRide
WeRide is a global leader and a first mover in the autonomous driving industry, as well as the first publicly traded Robotaxi company. Our autonomous vehicles have been tested or operated in over 30 cities across 10 countries. We are also the first and only technology company whose products have received autonomous driving permits in six markets: China, France, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the UAE, and the US. Empowered by the smart, versatile, cost-effective, and highly adaptable WeRide One platform, WeRide provides autonomous driving products and services from L2 to L4, addressing transportation needs in the mobility, logistics, and sanitation industries. WeRide was named in Fortune Magazine’s 2024 “The Future 50” list.
Media Contact
pr@weride.ai
About Integrated Transport Centre
The Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), affiliated with the Department of Municipalities and Transport, is the legislative, regulatory, and supervisory authority responsible for managing and developing the transport sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. It formulates policies and frameworks aimed at establishing a smart, safe, and integrated mobility system that supports the Emirate’s aspiration to be among the most advanced cities in the world.
ITC oversees all land, maritime, and aviation transport activities across the Emirate, ensuring the integration and advancement of the mobility system in line with urban expansion and population growth. It also strives to harness the latest technologies, innovation, and sustainability tools to meet future mobility demands, enhance quality of life, and redefine urban living standards by embedding advanced solutions and promoting sustainable mobility practices.
About Uber
Uber’s mission is to create opportunity through movement. We started in 2010 to solve a simple problem: how do you get access to a ride at the touch of a button? More than 58 billion trips later, we’re building products to get people closer to where they want to be. By changing how people, food, and things move through cities, Uber is a platform that opens up the world to new possibilities.
Media Contact
press@uber.com
Safe Harbor Statement
This Report (including its exhibit) contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking” statements pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to,” and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about WeRide’s beliefs, plans, and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in WeRide’s and Uber’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this Report is as of the date of this Report. Neither WeRide nor Uber undertakes any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.
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FAQ
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