WeRide Makes First European Fully Driverless Commercial Robobus Deployment in France with Beti, Renault, Macif
WeRide (Nasdaq: WRD) has announced its first European fully driverless commercial Robobus deployment in France's Drôme region, partnering with beti, Renault Group, and Macif. The service will launch on March 10, 2025, at the Rovaltain business park – Valence TGV station.
The L4-level autonomous service will operate several six-meter-long robobuses, each carrying eight passengers, on a 3.3 km route connecting the train station, long-term parking, catering hub, and 150 companies employing 3,000 people. The buses will operate at speeds up to 40km/h with dynamic obstacle avoidance capabilities.
The deployment includes an initial learning phase from March 10 to April 19, operating Monday to Friday, followed by a second operating phase starting in July. Beti Automated Mobility will manage operations using their 'hypervision' solution for enhanced safety and continuous system improvement.
WeRide (Nasdaq: WRD) ha annunciato il suo primo dispiegamento commerciale completamente autonomo di Robobus in Europa, nella regione della Drôme in Francia, in collaborazione con beti, Renault Group e Macif. Il servizio sarà attivato il 10 marzo 2025, nel parco commerciale Rovaltain – stazione TGV di Valence.
Il servizio autonomo di livello L4 opererà diversi robobus lunghi sei metri, ciascuno in grado di trasportare otto passeggeri, su un percorso di 3,3 km che collega la stazione ferroviaria, il parcheggio a lungo termine, il centro di ristorazione e 150 aziende che impiegano 3.000 persone. I bus viaggeranno a velocità di fino a 40 km/h con capacità di evitamento dinamico degli ostacoli.
Il dispiegamento prevede una fase iniziale di apprendimento dal 10 marzo al 19 aprile, operando dal lunedì al venerdì, seguita da una seconda fase operativa che inizierà a luglio. Beti Automated Mobility gestirà le operazioni utilizzando la loro soluzione 'hypervision' per una maggiore sicurezza e un continuo miglioramento del sistema.
WeRide (Nasdaq: WRD) ha anunciado su primer despliegue comercial de Robobus completamente autónomo en Europa, en la región de Drôme, Francia, en colaboración con beti, Renault Group y Macif. El servicio se lanzará el 10 de marzo de 2025, en el parque empresarial Rovaltain – estación TGV de Valence.
El servicio autónomo de nivel L4 operará varios robobuses de seis metros de largo, cada uno con capacidad para ocho pasajeros, en una ruta de 3,3 km que conecta la estación de tren, el aparcamiento a largo plazo, el centro de restauración y 150 empresas que emplean a 3.000 personas. Los autobuses funcionarán a velocidades de hasta 40 km/h con capacidades de evitación dinámica de obstáculos.
El despliegue incluye una fase inicial de aprendizaje del 10 de marzo al 19 de abril, operando de lunes a viernes, seguida de una segunda fase operativa que comenzará en julio. Beti Automated Mobility gestionará las operaciones utilizando su solución de 'hipervisión' para una mayor seguridad y mejora continua del sistema.
WeRide (Nasdaq: WRD)는 프랑스 드롬 지역에서 유럽 최초의 완전 자율 상업 로보버스 배치를 발표하며 beti, 르노 그룹, 마시프와 협력하고 있습니다. 이 서비스는 2025년 3월 10일에 로발탱 비즈니스 파크 – 발랑스 TGV 역에서 시작될 예정입니다.
L4 수준의 자율 서비스는 각각 8명의 승객을 수송할 수 있는 6미터 길이의 로보버스를 여러 대 운영하며, 기차역, 장기 주차장, 식음료 허브 및 3,000명의 직원을 고용하는 150개 회사가 연결된 3.3km 경로를 따라 운행됩니다. 버스는 시속 40km까지의 속도로 운행되며, 동적 장애물 회피 기능을 갖추고 있습니다.
배치에는 3월 10일부터 4월 19일까지 월요일부터 금요일까지 운영되는 초기 학습 단계가 포함되어 있으며, 그 후 7월부터 두 번째 운영 단계가 시작됩니다. Beti Automated Mobility는 향상된 안전성과 지속적인 시스템 개선을 위해 '하이퍼비전' 솔루션을 사용하여 운영을 관리할 것입니다.
WeRide (Nasdaq: WRD) a annoncé son premier déploiement commercial de Robobus entièrement autonome en Europe, dans la région de Drôme en France, en partenariat avec beti, le groupe Renault et Macif. Le service sera lancé le 10 mars 2025, au parc d'affaires Rovaltain – gare TGV de Valence.
Le service autonome de niveau L4 fera circuler plusieurs robobus de six mètres de long, chacun transportant huit passagers, sur un parcours de 3,3 km reliant la gare, le parking de longue durée, le pôle de restauration et 150 entreprises employant 3 000 personnes. Les bus circuleront à des vitesses allant jusqu'à 40 km/h avec des capacités d'évitement dynamique des obstacles.
Le déploiement comprend une phase d'apprentissage initiale du 10 mars au 19 avril, opérant du lundi au vendredi, suivie d'une seconde phase opérationnelle commençant en juillet. Beti Automated Mobility gérera les opérations en utilisant leur solution 'hypervision' pour une sécurité accrue et une amélioration continue du système.
WeRide (Nasdaq: WRD) hat seinen ersten vollständig fahrerlosen kommerziellen Robobus-Einsatz in Europa in der französischen Region Drôme angekündigt, in Partnerschaft mit beti, Renault Group und Macif. Der Service wird am 10. März 2025 im Geschäftspark Rovaltain – Valence TGV-Bahnhof starten.
Der L4-autonome Service wird mehrere sechs Meter lange Robobusse betreiben, die jeweils acht Passagiere befördern, auf einer 3,3 km langen Strecke, die den Bahnhof, den Langzeitparkplatz, das Gastronomiezentrum und 150 Unternehmen mit 3.000 Beschäftigten verbindet. Die Busse werden mit Geschwindigkeiten von bis zu 40 km/h fahren und über dynamische Hindernisvermeidung verfügen.
Der Einsatz umfasst eine erste Lernphase vom 10. März bis 19. April, die von Montag bis Freitag betrieben wird, gefolgt von einer zweiten Betriebsphase, die im Juli beginnt. Beti Automated Mobility wird die Operationen mit ihrer 'Hypervision'-Lösung für erhöhte Sicherheit und kontinuierliche Systemverbesserung verwalten.
- First commercial L4 autonomous bus deployment in Europe
- Strategic expansion into European market
- Partnership with established companies (Renault, Macif)
- Service addresses clear market need serving 3,000 employees across 150 companies
- Initial deployment to learning phase with restricted schedule
- Small-scale operation with passenger capacity (8 per bus)
- Restricted to short 3.3km route
Insights
WeRide's first fully driverless commercial Robobus deployment in Europe represents a significant expansion of their autonomous driving commercialization strategy beyond Asian and Middle Eastern markets. This L4 autonomous implementation in France's Drôme region demonstrates the company's capability to adapt its technology to different regulatory environments and transportation ecosystems.
The partnership with beti, Renault Group, and Macif is strategically valuable as it provides WeRide entry into the European market with established local operators. The 3.3km route connecting a railway station to a business park addresses specific mobility needs with multiple compelling use cases, targeting the challenging last-mile transportation problem.
What's technically impressive is the 40km/h operational speed in mixed traffic conditions with dynamic obstacle avoidance - performance metrics that exceed many competitors' autonomous shuttle capabilities. The phased deployment approach (March learning phase followed by July operational phase) indicates a measured commercialization strategy focusing on safety validation before scaling.
For WeRide investors, this European deployment represents execution of their global expansion strategy and validates their technology's transferability across markets. The commercial nature of this deployment signals transition from pilot programs to revenue-generating operations, a critical milestone for autonomous driving companies seeking to demonstrate viable business models beyond R&D.
This deployment represents one of the first genuine commercial applications of L4 autonomous technology in Europe's public transportation sector. The multi-phase approach (starting with a learning phase through April before expanding in July) demonstrates a pragmatic commercialization strategy that balances technological ambition with operational realism.
The partnership structure is particularly noteworthy. WeRide provides the autonomous technology while beti Automated Mobility operates the service and implements their "hypervision" safety layer. This creates a dual-redundancy safety architecture that addresses one of the primary concerns in autonomous transportation deployment. Renault's involvement brings automotive manufacturing expertise and local market knowledge essential for European expansion.
The use case selection shows strategic targeting of the transportation gap between fixed infrastructure (train station) and final destinations (business park) - precisely where traditional public transit often fails. This 3.3km route serving 150 companies with 3,000 employees represents an ideal autonomous deployment scenario: contained environment, predictable demand patterns, and clear value proposition reducing private vehicle usage.
From a competitive landscape perspective, WeRide's ability to secure this commercial deployment positions them ahead of many autonomous mobility competitors still stuck in perpetual pilot phases. The progression from technology demonstration to commercial operation is the hurdle many autonomous vehicle companies fail to clear, making this a particularly valuable proof point for WeRide's business model.
VALENCE, France, Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WeRide (Nasdaq: WRD), a global leader in autonomous driving technology, today announced the first European fully driverless commercial deployment of its Robobus as part of a shuttle service partnership with beti, Renault Group, and Macif that will feature an L4 -level automated mobility service in France’s Drôme region.
WeRide will provide its L4-level autonomous technology for a passenger transport service on open roads in mixed traffic, with several six-meter-long robobuses, each able to carry eight passengers, operated by beti Automated Mobility. Beti Automated Mobility will begin operations on March 10, at the Rovaltain business park – Valence TGV station in Drôme.
"Our collaboration with beti allows us to execute our inaugural commercial Robobus deployment in Europe, utilizing our proven track record in the Chinese, Singaporean, and Middle Eastern markets, and ultimately reinforcing our position as a global leader in L4 autonomous driving deployment and commercialization." said Jennifer Li, CFO and Head of International Business at WeRide.
Benjamin Beaudet, CEO of beti, explained that beti’s “hypervision” solution provides a second layer of safety for automated driving and ensures continuous improvement of the system.
The route is 3.3 km long and serves the train station, off-site long-term parking, the business park's catering hub, and 150 companies employing 3,000 people.
Key use cases include:
- Providing flexible mobility between the station and companies while promoting sustainable last-mile transport.
- Creating a low-carbon alternative to walking between parking and the station.
- Connecting companies to the catering hub for employees.
This deployment is groundbreaking because:
- This is WeRide's first fully driverless commercial Robobus deployment in Europe, showcasing its global expansion.
- It's the first high-level automated service connecting a railway station to a business park.
- WeRide's L4 automation enables 40km/h speeds and dynamic obstacle avoidance.
“Following successful trials conducted by Renault Group and WeRide, the beginnings of a passenger transport service using automated shuttles are now
being set up in Valence.” said Patrick Vergelas, Head of Autonomous Mobility Projects, Renault Group.
The initial learning phase will run from March 10 to April 19, operating Monday to Friday under real passenger transport conditions. It will demonstrate the relevance of the service, the safety of the technology and the efficiency of the operations. A second target operating phase will start in July.
Contact
Edmond Lococo
ICR, LLC
WeRidePR@icrinc.com
+1 (332) 242-4398
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/30f670a0-ee32-49f1-a750-0c81be04b438
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