WeRide Secures World's First City-level Fully Driverless Robotaxi Permit Outside the U.S.

Rhea-AI Summary

WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD) received a city-level permit for fully driverless Level 4 Robotaxi commercial operations in Abu Dhabi, granted on October 31, 2025, allowing operations without an on-board safety driver.

Commercial rides will start on the Uber and TXAI platforms; the permit removes the safety-driver requirement and lets Robotaxi services in Abu Dhabi reach financial breakeven on unit economics. WeRide has tested fully driverless service since Q2 2025 and logged close to 1 million km in Abu Dhabi as of October 2025. The company plans a 1,000-Robotaxi Middle East fleet by 2026 and broader deployment targets through 2030.

Positive

• City-level fully driverless permit granted on Oct 31, 2025
• Unit-economics breakeven achieved without on-board safety driver
• Close to 1 million kilometers driven in Abu Dhabi as of Oct 2025
• Target to expand to 1,000 Robotaxis by 2026

Negative

• Operations remain subject to emirate-level approvals
• Commercial deployment depends on Uber and TXAI platform partnerships

Insights

Autonomous Mobility Strategist

City permit for fully driverless Robotaxis in Abu Dhabi enables commercial launch and claims unit‑economics breakeven.

The permit granted on October 31, 2025 authorizes WeRide to run Level 4 Robotaxis commercially without an on‑board safety driver, and operations will start on the Uber and TXAI platforms. Removing the in‑vehicle safety officer materially changes operating cost structure, which the company states allows unit‑economics to reach financial breakeven.

The business mechanism is straightforward: lower operating labour and supervision costs per trip improve margins on each ride. Dependencies include continuing regulatory permissions across emirates, sustained vehicle reliability demonstrated during recent driverless testing since Q2 2025, and the commercial rollout cadence through partners in core city areas by end of 2025. Key risks are operational scale issues, unforeseen safety incidents, or limits on geographic scope that would keep utilisation below breakeven levels.

Concrete items to watch are actual driverless trip volumes and utilisation after launch, any regulatory clarifications or reinstatements, and progress toward the stated fleet target of 1,000 Robotaxis by 2026 and wider deployments toward 2030. Early monthly metrics in the first two quarters post‑launch will be most informative for verifying the stated breakeven claim.

• Fully driverless Robotaxi rides to start in Abu Dhabi
• The latest permit enables WeRide Robotaxi services in Abu Dhabi to achieve financial breakeven on unit economics

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD, HKEX: 0800.HK), a global leader in autonomous driving technology, has been granted a permit to conduct fully driverless Robotaxi commercial operations, marking it as one of the first companies to receive a city-level commercial permit for Level 4 autonomous driving issued outside the United States (U.S.), and the first international company to achieve this milestone in the UAE.

WeRide Robotaxis in Abu Dhabi

The permit, granted on October 31, 2025, authorizes WeRide's Robotaxis to operate commercially without an on-board safety driver. Commercial operations will start on the Uber and TXAI platforms in Abu Dhabi, with further details to be communicated soon.

WeRide's permit application received the necessary approvals following a thorough evaluation process. In July 2023, the company was granted the UAE's first national license for all types of self-driving vehicles, authorizing autonomous testing and operation on public roads across the country, subject to emirate-level approvals.

Under the guidance of relevant authorities, WeRide completed a rigorous testing process that led to the approval for fully driverless commercial operations. The clear standards and collaborative approach helped ensure that operations complied with local regulations, with the approval demonstrating the government’s confidence in WeRide’s autonomous driving technology.

WeRide has been operating Robotaxis with TXAI in Abu Dhabi since 2021. In December 2024, WeRide and Uber launched their Robotaxi ride-hailing partnership in Abu Dhabi — the largest commercial Robotaxi service outside the U.S. and China. The partnership expanded in July 2025 to cover about half of Abu Dhabi's core areas, including Al Reem and Al Maryah. Together with its partners, WeRide plans to extend services to cover most of Abu Dhabi city core by the end of 2025.

As of October 2025, WeRide Robotaxis have accumulated close to one million kilometers in Abu Dhabi. The latest permit removes the requirement for an in-vehicle safety officer, enabling WeRide Robotaxi services in Abu Dhabi to achieve financial breakeven on unit economics.

Since Q2 2025, WeRide has been conducting fully driverless Robotaxi testing in Abu Dhabi to validate reliability ahead of commercial deployment, working closely with the ITC through a rigorous safety and regulatory approval process.

This milestone supports WeRide's broader plan to expand its Middle East fleet to 1,000 Robotaxis by 2026, and ultimately deploy tens of thousands of Robotaxis by 2030.

WeRide Robotaxi GXRs in Abu Dhabi

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 11 countries. We are also the first and only technology company whose products have received autonomous driving permits in seven markets: China, the UAE, Singapore, France, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, and the US. Empowered by the smart, versatile, cost-effective, and highly adaptable WeRide One platform, WeRideprovides autonomous driving products and services from L2 to L4, addressing transportation needs in the mobility, logistics, and sanitation industries. WeRide was named to Fortune's 2025 Change the World and 2025 Future 50 lists.

Media Contact
pr@weride.ai

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release 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 filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release. WeRide does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

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FAQ

What did WeRide (WRD) receive on October 31, 2025 for Abu Dhabi operations?

WeRide received a city-level permit authorizing fully driverless Level 4 Robotaxi commercial operations without an on-board safety driver.

When will WeRide Robotaxi rides start commercially in Abu Dhabi on Uber and TXAI?

Commercial operations will start on the Uber and TXAI platforms, with further timing details to be communicated soon.

How many kilometers have WeRide Robotaxis logged in Abu Dhabi as of October 2025?

WeRide Robotaxis have accumulated close to 1 million kilometers in Abu Dhabi as of October 2025.

Does the new WeRide permit affect profitability for WRD Robotaxi services?

Yes; removing the in-vehicle safety officer requirement enables financial breakeven on unit economics for Abu Dhabi Robotaxi services.

What is WeRide's Middle East fleet target and timeline after the Abu Dhabi permit?

WeRide plans to expand its Middle East fleet to 1,000 Robotaxis by 2026 and aims for tens of thousands by 2030.

Are there regulatory limitations that could affect WeRide (WRD) expansion in the UAE?

Yes; national testing licenses and operations remain subject to emirate-level approvals and ongoing regulator oversight.