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WeRide and Uber Launch Fully Driverless Robotaxi Fare-Charging Operations in Dubai, Accelerating Autonomous Mobility in the Middle East

  • Public operations began today across Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah districts
  • Riders in Dubai can now book a WeRide fully driverless Robotaxi through the Uber app
  • Endorsed by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority, supporting the emirate's goal of 25% autonomous journeys by 2030

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, March 31, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD, HKEX: 0800), a global leader in autonomous driving technology, and Uber Technologies (NYSE: UBER), today launched fully driverless Robotaxi fare-charging operations in Dubai, as part of the first batch of Level 4 Robotaxis to enter commercial service in the city. This marks a significant milestone in the companies' expanding AV partnership and strengthens their roles in supporting Dubai's driverless ambitions of 25% autonomous journeys by 2030.

WeRide's Robotaxi GXR fleet in Dubai

Public commercial operations began today without a vehicle operator on board along routes in Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim, two of Dubai’s most popular coastal tourist districts, in partnership with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). Riders can book and be matched with a WeRide Robotaxi through the ‘Autonomous’ option on the Uber app. Tawasul, a leading mobility and fleet operator in the UAE, will be the service operator for WeRide vehicles on the Uber platform, providing fleet management services.

The launch follows a successful supervised trial service that began in December 2025. The RTA subsequently granted WeRide a driverless vehicle trial permit in February 2026, allowing fully driverless Robotaxis to be deployed across multiple areas in Dubai, including:

  • Commercial and industrial districts: Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai Investment Park Second, Jabal Ali Industrial First
  • Suburban areas: Nad Al Sheba, Wadi Al Safa, Warsan, Ras Al Khor
  • Maritime trade hub: Al Hamriya Port

These districts represent some of Dubai's busiest transport, logistics, and commercial activity zones. Under the RTA's guidance, WeRide will progressively extend service into these areas, bringing fully driverless mobility to more communities. This move reinforces the UAE’s smart mobility agenda and deepens WeRide’s long-term collaboration with the RTA, while supporting the company’s roadmap for tens of thousands of Robotaxis globally by 2030.

“WeRide is committed to long-term operations in Dubai and will continue expanding our local fleet. In challenging times, we stay focused on stability and service, ensuring our Robotaxis continue to deliver safe, dependable mobility for residents. This milestone reflects the combined strength of WeRide's advanced technology, our dedicated partners, and the regulatory confidence shown by RTA, as Dubai becomes one of the first cities worldwide to operate a fully driverless commercial Robotaxi service,” said Dr. Tony Han, Founder and CEO of WeRide.

“Bringing fully driverless vehicles to Dubai is an important milestone in making autonomous mobility a global reality. This launch underscores our deep commitment to the UAE and our vision for a hybrid world—where drivers and AVs operate side-by-side to create a more resilient network. Especially during challenging times in the region, we are proud to be a partner to this city, ensuring that Uber is always there to help people move seamlessly and with confidence,” said Sarfraz Maredia, Global Head of Autonomous Mobility & Delivery at Uber.

Earlier this week, Uber disclosed through public filings that it beneficially owns approximately 5.82% of WeRide's Class A ordinary shares. As a global leading mobility platform, Uber's stake demonstrates strong confidence in WeRide's technological leadership, global commercialization capabilities, and long-term strategic synergy value.

In 2023, WeRide became the first company in the UAE to receive a national license covering all types of self-driving vehicles, permitting autonomous testing and operation on public roads across the country, subject to emirate-level approvals. In February 2026, WeRide and Uber committed to deploy at least 1,200 Robotaxis across the Middle East spanning Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Riyadh. Today, WeRide has over 200 Robotaxis in the Middle East. Since 2025, WeRide's Middle Eastern subsidiary has achieved operational profitability in its Robotaxi business.

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 40 cities across 12 countries. We are also the first and only technology company whose products have received autonomous driving permits in eight markets: China, the UAE, Singapore, France, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, 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 to Fortune's 2025 Change the World and 2025 Future 50 lists.

Media Contact
[email protected]

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking” statements pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to,” and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about WeRide’s beliefs, plans, and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in WeRide’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and announcements on the website of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release. WeRide does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3d8c51b6-b0ac-47b8-b097-46e2d808f315


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WeRide Enters Slovakia, Launching Nation's First Autonomous Driving Program with ELEVATE Slovakia

  • Slovakia becomes WeRide's fourth European market after France, Belgium, and Switzerland.
  • WeRide enters Slovakia via a landmark partnership with ELEVATE Slovakia, an initiative bringing together the Ministry of Transport of the Slovak Republic, City of Bratislava, Slovak Post, academic institutions, and private companies to deploy WeRide's multi-product autonomous vehicle (AV) portfolio.
  • Testing will start in capital Bratislava in the first half of 2026, before expanding to Košice and the High Tatras resort area, paving the way for fully driverless commercial operations.

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia, March 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD, HKEX: 0800), a global leader in autonomous driving technology, today announced its entry into Slovakia through a strategic partnership with ELEVATE Slovakia to deploy autonomous vehicles (AVs), launching the country’s first AV program. This national-level rollout represents Europe's first large-scale, multi-product autonomous driving commercial deployment. The move marks WeRide's fourth European market after France, Belgium, and Switzerland, expanding its global footprint to over 40 cities across 12 countries.

ELEVATE Slovakia is a national, multi-stakeholder initiative that brings together public sector partners such as the Ministry of Transport of the Slovak Republic; Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic; the City of Bratislava; Slovak Post; academia and private companies. It aims to establish a safe, regulatory-ready framework for autonomous mobility, with the long-term objective of enabling nationwide fully driverless commercial operations.

WeRide will deploy its multi-product portfolio in Slovakia – including the Robotaxi, Robobus, Robovan, and Robosweeper – to support autonomous passenger mobility with the Ministry of Transport of the Slovak Republic, parcel logistics automation with Slovak Post, and smart sanitation operations with municipal partners such as the City of Bratislava. The first WeRide AVs are expected to arrive in Slovakia in spring 2026, with testing scheduled to start in the first half of 2026 in Bratislava, followed by expansion to Košice and the High Tatras. All testing will be conducted under Ministry of Transport supervision to ensure compliance with Slovak and European regulations, paving the way for fully driverless commercial operations once all legislative and safety requirements have been met.

“I view the signing of this agreement as the beginning of a process that will allow Slovakia to responsibly and in a controlled manner test autonomous technologies in transport. It will enable us to verify technologies transparently, with the participation of the state and with an emphasis on the public interest,” said Minister of Transport Jozef Ráž.

“WeRide's global expansion is picking up speed as more governments and cities advance large-scale autonomous mobility. With plans for over 2,600 active Robotaxis by the end of 2026 and tens of thousands globally by 2030, Slovakia represents a strategic next step as we extend our global presence to 12 countries. By engaging early with governments, we aim to be their go-to partner and set the standards for safe, scalable AV commercialization,” said Dr. Tony Han, Founder and CEO of WeRide.

Under the agreement with ELEVATE Slovakia, WeRide will serve as the autonomous driving technology provider, while Slovak technology company DiusAi will act as the technological and implementation partner responsible for system integration and local operational support.

“Cooperation with WeRide is our first step toward ensuring that Slovakia does not merely adopt these technologies from abroad, but is able to actively test them, professionally evaluate them, and gradually integrate them into its own environment. We are aware that the path toward autonomous transport requires time, extensive testing, open expert discussion, and gradual adjustments to the legislative framework. This is precisely why we consider the ELEVATE Slovakia initiative to be key,” said DiusAi CEO Patrik Tkáč.

“Testing autonomous technologies represents an interesting opportunity for companies as well as for the creation of new jobs in the field of AI and innovation. Moreover, this opportunity can provide us with real data and experience that can be used in urban transport planning,” said Bratislava’s Chief City Strategist Ján Mazúr.

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 40 cities across 12 countries. We are also the first and only technology company whose products have received autonomous driving permits in eight markets: China, the UAE, Singapore, France, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, 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 to Fortune's 2025 Change the World and 2025 Future 50 lists.

https://www.weride.ai

About ELEVATE Slovakia

The ELEVATE Slovakia initiative serves as a long-term coordinating platform for the development of autonomous mobility in Slovakia. It brings together public institutions, academia, and the private sector with the goal of creating a safe, innovative, and regulatorily sustainable environment for the research, testing, and deployment of autonomous technologies.

https://elevateslovakia.com

About DiusAI

DiusAi is a Slovak technology company focused on the research, development, and deployment of advanced artificial intelligence solutions. At DiusAi, the team believes that technology should learn from people, not control them, and therefore creates AI that understands users, their needs, and their way of thinking. The company’s flagship product currently under development is Jarvis—a personal AI assistant that listens, understands, and learns from the user, with a strong emphasis on privacy, personalization, and secure adaptation to individual needs.

https://dius.ai/sk

Media Contacts

WeRide:

Email: [email protected]

Ministry of Transport of the Slovak Republic:

Email: [email protected]

DiusAI:

Email: [email protected]

Mobile: +421 911 718 259

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking” statements pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to,” and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about WeRide’s beliefs, plans, and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in WeRide’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and announcements on the website of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release. WeRide does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/116066ea-64a8-4e61-bddf-ea93b10ebae9


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