Uber users in Abu Dhabi, UAE, will soon have the chance to book rides in self-driving cars. On Friday, December 6, Uber announced a partnership with Chinese company WeRide to provide autonomous vehicle rides in the city.
Uber is set to begin its robotaxi service in Abu Dhabi, providing rides between Saadiyat Island and Yas Island, as well as to Zayed International Airport. The company announced this partnership with Chinese firm WeRide on December 6. Initially, each WeRide robotaxi will have a human driver on board to ensure the safety of both passengers and pedestrians. Fully driverless rides are expected to be available by 2025.
To fully experience driverless rides, Uber users in Abu Dhabi might need to wait until late 2025. Meanwhile, the company already operates an autonomous vehicle ride service in the United States.
Earlier this year, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi announced that the company aims to broaden its robotaxi services by collaborating with over a dozen autonomous vehicle manufacturers. He stated during an earnings call, “Our autonomous strategy is effective… AV partners are recognizing the significant value that Uber can contribute to their deployment plans.”
WeRide, a company listed on Nasdaq that develops autonomous vehicles, has announced that it is authorized to test and operate its driverless cars in several locations, including Dubai, UAE, as well as in Singapore, China, and the United States.
