Uber NYSE:UBER and WeRide NASDAQ:WRD just flipped the switch on the Middle East's first fully driverless robotaxi service, officially launching in Abu Dhabi. The rollout started on Yas Island, where people can now book a WeRide robotaxi the same way they would any other Uber ride through Uber Comfort, UberX, or the newly added Autonomous option.
The robotaxis are WeRide's GXR model, built specifically for full self-driving and roomy enough for five passengers. This launch has been building for a while. The two companies spent nearly a year running tests with safety drivers, then expanded into major areas like Al Reem and Al Maryah earlier this year to prep for a full commercial rollout.
Now they're going driverless for real. Uber and WeRide say they'll expand deeper into Abu Dhabi's city center by the end of 2025, and WeRide already has more than 100 robotaxis operating across the region.