Uber’s robotaxi service in UAE now includes fully driverless vehicles

Uber and WeRide are present deploying afloat driverless vehicles arsenic portion of its robotaxi work successful the United Arab Emarites. Customers successful Abu Dhabi who petition an UberX oregon Uber Comfort whitethorn beryllium matched with a afloat autonomous WeRide conveyance if the way is portion of the company’s work area.

Uber and Chinese autonomous conveyance relation WeRide archetypal launched their robotaxi work with information drivers backmost successful December 2024. At the time, the companies they anticipated pulling information drivers retired of the vehicles the pursuing year.

Initially, the afloat autonomous vehicles volition lone beryllium disposable successful prime locations passim the 12 quadrate miles of Yas Island, a fashionable tourer destination successful Abu Dhabi. Uber and WeRide accidental they volition grow its afloat driverless territory successful the future. Customers funny successful riding successful a driverless car tin prime the “Autonomous” enactment successful the Uber app for a amended accidental of being matched.

The vehicles are WeRide’s GXR equipped with implicit 20 sensors and cameras, and tin spot up to 5 passengers. The GXR is based connected Geely’s Farizon SuperVan, which is besides being utilized arsenic a WeRide robotaxi successful Beijing. Similar to Uber’s concern with Waymo successful the US, the ridehailing institution oversees fleet operations for WeRide’s robotaxis successful collaboration with taxi relation Tawasul Transport. This includes conveyance cleaning, maintenance, inspections, charging, and depot management. WeRide remains liable for conveyance investigating and sensor calibration.

In summation to its work successful the UAE, Uber and WeRide person said they program connected launching successful an further 15 cities implicit the adjacent 5 years, including immoderate cities successful Europe. Uber has been connected an implicit streak of partnering with caller AV companies implicit the past fewer years arsenic it seeks to go a one-stop shop for robot cars and robot delivery of immoderate marque (except Tesla, for now).