Uber launched a robotaxi service with its partner Veride in Abu Dhabi, its first international effort to make a wide number of autonomous vehicles from different operators available on its platform.
Customers who use Uber to book a ride will be presented with the option to pick up an autonomous vehicle from WeRide. Fares will be upfront and at par with UberX and Uber Comfort prices. The vehicles will include safety drivers, so it will not be a fully autonomous service at launch. But Uber and Veride said they aim to offer driverless vehicles to passengers in 2025.
Vehicles will include security drivers
Uber first announced its partnership with WeRide A startup based in Guangzhou, China, last September. WeRide has driverless operation permits in the UAE, Singapore, China and the US – although Uber has said it is not currently considering expanding the partnership beyond the UAE.
WeRide’s autonomous vehicles in Abu Dhabi are available to customers through the TXAI app. The company was first given permission to test and operate AVs on public roads in the country in July 2023.
WeRide was planning to list its shares in the US at a valuation of $5 billion, but its initial public offering has been delayed The company cited the need to complete all documents.
The company also develops self-driving technology that powers shuttle buses and freight equipment. It was first launched in Silicon Valley in 2017 and was later added to the Cayman Islands.
since exhaust one’s own efforts In developing self-driving cars in 2020, Uber has sought to become the clearinghouse for any company operating autonomous vehicles in the world. In addition to We Ride, Uber has deals cruise, waymo, dynamic And override For self-driving cars and to serve, cartcan And neuro For delivery robots.
