WeRide receives Spain’s first L4 robotaxi license
Chinese autonomous driving technology company WeRide said it has received Spain’s first license to operate passenger vehicles with Level 4 autonomy. The permit allows robotaxis to be deployed on public roads, ECNS reports.
According to the outlet, this is the first time Spain has granted a national-level permit for the operation of L4 robotaxis. The license also became WeRide’s first national approval for robotaxis in the European Union.
Testing in Madrid
The company initially plans to begin deploying and testing the service. At the first stage, dozens of robotaxis equipped with WeRide’s latest-generation autonomous technology are expected to be tested in several high-demand districts of Madrid.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
A safety specialist will be present in each vehicle at the initial stage. After meeting operational and regulatory requirements, WeRide and its partners expect to launch commercial passenger rides by the end of 2026.
Commercial plans
Users in Madrid will be able to order WeRide robotaxis through designated platforms. The company said the service area will expand as key operational indicators are achieved. This is expected to create the conditions for fully driverless commercial robotaxi operations in the city’s central districts.
WeRide Chief Financial Officer and head of international operations Li Xuan said the company, together with its partners, will work to launch Spain’s first commercial robotaxi service. According to WeRide, the company holds autonomous driving licenses in nine countries, including China, Spain, Belgium, France, Singapore, and the United States.
