WeRide Expands into Saudi Arabia with Launch of Robotaxi and More Autonomous Driving Products
WeRide (Nasdaq: WRD) has announced its expansion into Saudi Arabia, launching testing and deployment of Robotaxis and autonomous driving products in Riyadh and AlUla. The company plans to begin Robotaxi trial operations on Uber in the coming months, with full commercial services expected in late 2025.
WeRide's deployment includes Robobus operations at key locations like King Fahad Medical City and Aramco residential communities, and the Robosweeper S1 at King Fahad Medical City - the first monetized autonomous sanitation project in the Middle East. This expansion aligns with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 goals and supports its growing tourism sector, projected to reach $110.1 billion by 2033.
The company is also expanding its presence across the Middle East, with recent launches in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, while planning to extend Robotaxi services to 15 additional cities globally through its partnership with Uber.
WeRide (Nasdaq: WRD) ha annunciato la sua espansione in Arabia Saudita, avviando test e implementazioni di Robotaxi e prodotti di guida autonoma a Riyadh e AlUla. L'azienda prevede di iniziare le operazioni di prova dei Robotaxi su Uber nei prossimi mesi, con servizi commerciali completi attesi per la fine del 2025.
Il dispiegamento di WeRide include operazioni di Robobus in punti chiave come King Fahad Medical City e le comunità residenziali di Aramco, oltre al Robosweeper S1 presso King Fahad Medical City – il primo progetto monetizzato di pulizia autonoma in Medio Oriente. Questa espansione è in linea con gli obiettivi della Vision 2030 dell'Arabia Saudita e supporta il suo settore turistico in crescita, previsto raggiungere un valore di 110,1 miliardi di dollari entro il 2033.
L’azienda sta inoltre ampliando la sua presenza in tutto il Medio Oriente, con recenti lanci ad Abu Dhabi e Dubai, e pianifica di estendere i servizi Robotaxi a 15 città aggiuntive a livello globale grazie alla partnership con Uber.
WeRide (Nasdaq: WRD) ha anunciado su expansión en Arabia Saudita, iniciando pruebas y despliegue de Robotaxis y productos de conducción autónoma en Riad y AlUla. La compañía planea comenzar las operaciones de prueba de Robotaxi en Uber en los próximos meses, con servicios comerciales completos esperados para finales de 2025.
El despliegue de WeRide incluye operaciones de Robobus en ubicaciones clave como King Fahad Medical City y comunidades residenciales de Aramco, y el Robosweeper S1 en King Fahad Medical City, el primer proyecto monetizado de saneamiento autónomo en Medio Oriente. Esta expansión está alineada con los objetivos de la Visión 2030 de Arabia Saudita y apoya su creciente sector turístico, que se proyecta alcanzará 110.1 mil millones de dólares para 2033.
La compañía también está ampliando su presencia en toda la región de Medio Oriente, con lanzamientos recientes en Abu Dhabi y Dubái, y planea extender los servicios de Robotaxi a 15 ciudades adicionales a nivel mundial a través de su asociación con Uber.
WeRide (나스닥: WRD)가 사우디아라비아로 사업을 확장하여 리야드와 알울라에서 로보택시 및 자율주행 제품의 테스트와 배치를 시작했다고 발표했습니다. 회사는 향후 몇 달 내에 Uber에서 로보택시 시범 운영을 시작할 계획이며, 2025년 말까지 완전 상업 서비스를 기대하고 있습니다.
WeRide의 배치에는 King Fahad Medical City와 Aramco 주거 지역과 같은 주요 장소에서 로보버스 운영, 그리고 King Fahad Medical City에서 중동 최초의 수익화된 자율 청소 프로젝트인 Robosweeper S1가 포함됩니다. 이번 확장은 사우디아라비아의 비전 2030 목표와 일치하며, 2033년까지 1101억 달러에 이를 것으로 예상되는 관광 산업 성장도 지원합니다.
회사는 또한 중동 전역에서 입지를 넓히고 있으며, 최근 아부다비와 두바이에서 출시를 진행했고, Uber와의 파트너십을 통해 전 세계 15개 도시로 로보택시 서비스를 확장할 계획입니다.
WeRide (Nasdaq : WRD) a annoncé son expansion en Arabie Saoudite, lançant des tests et le déploiement de Robotaxis et de produits de conduite autonome à Riyad et AlUla. La société prévoit de commencer les opérations d’essai de Robotaxi sur Uber dans les prochains mois, avec des services commerciaux complets attendus d’ici fin 2025.
Le déploiement de WeRide comprend des opérations de Robobus sur des sites clés comme King Fahad Medical City et les communautés résidentielles d’Aramco, ainsi que le Robosweeper S1 à King Fahad Medical City – le premier projet autonome de nettoyage monétisé au Moyen-Orient. Cette expansion s’aligne sur les objectifs de la Vision 2030 de l’Arabie Saoudite et soutient son secteur touristique en pleine croissance, qui devrait atteindre 110,1 milliards de dollars d’ici 2033.
La société étend également sa présence à travers le Moyen-Orient, avec des lancements récents à Abu Dhabi et Dubaï, tout en prévoyant d’étendre les services Robotaxi à 15 villes supplémentaires dans le monde grâce à son partenariat avec Uber.
WeRide (Nasdaq: WRD) hat seine Expansion nach Saudi-Arabien angekündigt und startet Tests und den Einsatz von Robotaxis und autonomen Fahrprodukten in Riad und AlUla. Das Unternehmen plant, in den kommenden Monaten Robotaxi-Testfahrten auf Uber zu beginnen, mit vollständigen kommerziellen Diensten, die für Ende 2025 erwartet werden.
Der Einsatz von WeRide umfasst Robobus-Operationen an wichtigen Standorten wie der King Fahad Medical City und den Aramco-Wohnanlagen sowie den Robosweeper S1 in der King Fahad Medical City – das erste monetarisierte autonome Reinigungsprojekt im Nahen Osten. Diese Expansion steht im Einklang mit den Zielen der Vision 2030 Saudi-Arabiens und unterstützt den wachsenden Tourismussektor, der bis 2033 voraussichtlich 110,1 Milliarden US-Dollar erreichen wird.
Das Unternehmen baut zudem seine Präsenz im Nahen Osten weiter aus, mit kürzlichen Starts in Abu Dhabi und Dubai, und plant, die Robotaxi-Dienste weltweit in 15 weiteren Städten über die Partnerschaft mit Uber auszuweiten.
- Strategic entry into Saudi Arabia, the Middle East's largest economy with $1.09 trillion GDP
- First monetized autonomous sanitation project in Saudi Arabia with Robosweeper S1
- Partnership with Uber for global expansion to 15 additional cities
- Multiple revenue streams through Robotaxis, Robobuses, and Robosweeper deployments
- Alignment with Saudi Vision 2030, positioning for long-term growth in the region
- Commercial operations not yet started, with full services delayed until late 2025
- Operating in a new market may present regulatory and operational challenges
- High initial investment required for infrastructure and operations setup
Insights
WeRide's expansion into Saudi Arabia represents a strategic market entry with multiple autonomous vehicle deployments, strengthening its global footprint and Uber partnership.
WeRide's expansion into Saudi Arabia marks a strategic entry into the Middle East's largest economy, leveraging the kingdom's
First, WeRide's Robotaxi service will begin trial operations through Uber in the coming months, with full commercial deployment expected by late 2025. This builds on their existing partnership that's already operational in Abu Dhabi and soon Dubai, forming part of a larger 15-city global expansion plan with Uber.
Second, their Robobus deployments at strategic locations like King Fahad Medical City and AlUla directly address last-mile transportation challenges while complementing existing transit infrastructure. The climate-adapted autonomous buses are particularly well-positioned for Saudi Arabia's weather conditions and diverse use cases spanning healthcare facilities, residential communities, and tourist destinations.
Third, the Robosweeper S1 deployment at King Fahad Medical City represents the first monetized autonomous sanitation project in the Middle East, targeting the complex's 500,000 square meter area with its four hospitals and 107 primary care centers.
This multi-pronged approach aligns perfectly with Saudi Arabia's tourism growth objectives (
WeRide is effectively establishing an early-mover advantage in a market actively seeking advanced transportation solutions for its smart city initiatives, potentially creating significant barriers to entry for competitors through these early partnerships with government authorities and major commercial entities.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, May 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WeRide (Nasdaq: WRD), a global leader in autonomous driving technology, today announced its expansion into Saudi Arabia, marking a significant step in its global growth strategy. As part of its market entry, the company has launched testing or deployment of its Robotaxis and other core autonomous driving products in cities like Riyadh and AlUla, setting the stage for commercial rollout and wider operations across Saudi Arabia.
(WeRide will be launching Robotaxi trial operations in Saudi Arabia on Uber in the coming months)
WeRide has commenced ground preparation work ahead of its upcoming Robotaxi trial operations, with support from the Transport General Authority. The service is set to launch on Uber in the coming months, with full commercial services expected in late 2025. This deployment supports Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 ambitions to build smart, sustainable cities by enhancing road safety, improving traffic management, and introducing innovative, technology-driven mobility solutions.
WeRide has also been testing and deploying its Robobus in several key areas across Saudi Arabia, including King Fahad Medical City, Aramco residential communities, AlUla, and the Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh. This Level-4 autonomous vehicle is designed to address last-mile transportation gaps and complements transit networks like Riyadh Metro, enhancing the overall travel experience. Well suited to the region’s hot climate, it serves a wide range of use cases — from parks to large-scale hotels and tourist attractions.
Saudi Arabia — the Middle East's largest economy with a GDP of US
In Riyadh, WeRide’s Robosweeper S1 has been deployed at King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh Second Health Cluster, marking the first monetized autonomous sanitation project in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. As the largest medical complex in the Middle East, it spans 500,000 square meters and includes four hospitals and 107 primary care centers, constantly experiencing heavy daily foot and vehicle traffic across medical, residential, commercial, and logistics zones. Its complicated layout requires advanced sanitation solutions, where the Level-4 Robosweeper plays a perfect role.
WeRide's expansion into Saudi Arabia builds on its growing international presence across the Middle East. Earlier this month, WeRide launched fully driverless Robotaxi testing in Abu Dhabi — the first deployment of its kind in the region. It will also be extending its Robotaxi service coverage to two high-demand islands in Abu Dhabi: Al Maryah and Al Reem Islands.
Also in May, WeRide and Uber announced an expansion of their strategic partnership, bringing Robotaxis to 15 additional cities globally over the next five years, including in Europe, while cities in the Middle East are being explored. This follows a successful Robotaxi launch in Abu Dhabi, which saw the largest public commercial Robotaxi fleet deployed outside the US and China in December 2024. This April, the partnership was expanded to Dubai, where WeRide's Robotaxis will soon be available on Uber's platform.
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 10 countries. We are also the first and only technology company whose products have received autonomous driving permits in five markets: China, the UAE, Singapore, France, and the US. Empowered by the smart, versatile, cost-effective, and highly adaptable WeRide One platform, WeRide provides autonomous driving products and services from L2 to L4, addressing transportation needs in the mobility, logistics, and sanitation industries. WeRide was named in Fortune Magazine’s 2024 “The Future 50” list.
Media Contact:
pr@weride.ai
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fbc900a0-17c7-4284-a171-6355e870c30b
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