Uber, the global ride-hailing company, has partnered with Chinese autonomous vehicle technology firm WeRide to introduce a commercial robotaxi service in Abu Dhabi.
This is Uber’s first autonomous vehicle initiative outside the United States, driving its expansion into self-driving technology.
The initial phase of the service will operate across locations including Saadiyat Island, Yas Island, and routes to and from Zayed International Airport.
Plans are already in place for wider coverage in the future. Each vehicle in this pilot stage will have a human safety operator to oversee operations, with a fully driverless rollout expected by late 2025.
With this collaboration, Uber is forming partnerships with autonomous vehicle innovators. The company has previously partnered with organisations such as Wayve, Serve Robotics, Aurora Innovation, and Waabi to enhance its presence in sectors like ride-hailing, delivery, and freight.
Nonetheless, investors are concerned about Uber’s ability to compete with companies directly developing autonomous technology, such as Waymo and Tesla.
Last week, Uber’s stock dropped to nearly 10% following Waymo’s announcement of its upcoming robotaxi service in Miami.
Analysts believe that while there are disruptions from autonomous vehicles that remain years away, companies like Uber could act as platforms that connect riders to these services.
The Abu Dhabi project will also involve collaboration with Tawasul Transport, a local operator tasked with managing the robotaxi fleet. Neither Uber nor WeRide disclosed the number of vehicles in the initial rollout, but both companies noted that the partnership is designed for gradual scaling.
WeRide, which was recently listed on the Nasdaq, is scaling fast on autonomous mobility. The partnership with Uber adds momentum to its drive while aligning with Abu Dhabi’s vision of integrating advanced technologies into its transportation infrastructure.
