WeRide Achieves City-Level Driverless Robotaxi Permit in Abu Dhabi, Targets Financial Breakeven

Major Regulatory Milestone: First City-Level Fully Driverless Permit Outside the U.S.

WeRide (NASDAQ:WRD, HKEX:0800.HK), a global pioneer in autonomous driving, has just secured a breakthrough: the world's first city-level, fully driverless Robotaxi commercial permit granted outside the U.S. The landmark approval allows WeRide’s autonomous taxis to begin fully commercial operations in Abu Dhabi, operating with no safety driver on board.

Notably, WeRide is now the first international technology firm to receive this advanced Level 4 permit in the UAE. Commercial services will start through the Uber and TXAI platforms, further expanding robotaxi access across Abu Dhabi’s major districts.

Regulatory Confidence After Extensive Testing and Partnerships

Securing this permit required a multi-year journey of close collaboration with UAE regulators. Since being awarded the national self-driving license in July 2023, WeRide conducted extensive tests—logging nearly one million kilometers of robotaxi operations in Abu Dhabi by October 2025. Its partnership with Uber, initiated in late 2024, already operates the region’s largest commercial robotaxi network outside the U.S. and China, serving key neighborhoods like Al Reem and Al Maryah, with planned city-wide coverage by year-end 2025.

The permit’s rigorous evaluation demonstrates strong government trust in WeRide’s technology, having passed strict safety and regulatory standards. The move paves the way for WeRide to scale up in the UAE, where previous driverless operations still required a human monitor inside the car.

Unit Economics Turn Positive as WeRide Scales Fleet Expansion

One of the most consequential impacts of the permit: it unlocks immediate operational efficiencies by eliminating the cost of in-car safety personnel. As a result, WeRide projects its Abu Dhabi robotaxi operation to reach financial breakeven on a unit economics basis—an important industry benchmark showing commercial viability for driverless rides.

This regulatory win sets the stage for rapid expansion: WeRide aims to grow its Middle East fleet to 1,000 robotaxis by 2026, with plans to deploy tens of thousands by 2030. If achieved, this would position Abu Dhabi as a major global hub for autonomous mobility outside North America and China.

Global Leadership: Seven Autonomous Driving Markets and Industry Recognition

Beyond the UAE, WeRide operates and tests its technology in over 30 cities across 11 countries and holds permits for driverless vehicles in seven markets—including China, Singapore, France, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, and the U.S. The company’s WeRide One platform underpins its commercial and testing vehicles, designed to serve everything from urban taxis to logistics and sanitation.

Industry recognition underscores WeRide’s global reach and technological maturity, with recent nods in the 2025 Fortune “Change the World” and “Future 50” lists.

What to Watch Next: Eyes on Fleet Scale, Service Area, and Commercial Impact

This city-level permit for fully driverless commercial robotaxi service marks a leap in WeRide’s push for international expansion—and for the autonomous taxi sector globally. Investors and technology watchers may want to monitor:

• The ramp-up of fully autonomous rides (no safety driver) across Abu Dhabi through 2025.
• Progress towards fleet size of 1,000 vehicles and city-wide coverage by year-end.
• Ongoing improvements in operational margins and user adoption as financial breakeven is reached.
• WeRide’s progress towards its 2030 goal of deploying tens of thousands of robotaxis worldwide.

The big question: Will WeRide’s regulatory win and operational gains in the UAE spur broader adoption of driverless mobility across more global cities—and signal a turning point for commercial viability in the sector?

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