Uber and WeRide launch robotaxi services in Abu Dhabi
Uber, the ride-hailing giant, and WeRide, a Chinese company that specializes in autonomous vehicles technology have launched a robotaxi commercial service in Abu Dhabi. Uber has launched its first international autonomous vehicle service. Uber has been signing partnerships with companies that offer autonomous vehicles in a variety of sectors including ride-hailing, delivery and trucking. Wayve, Serve Robotics Aurora Innovation Waabi and other partners are also included. Investors are still concerned that Uber and other incumbents will not be able compete with companies like Waymo, or even Tesla, who are developing the technology. On Thursday, Uber’s stock dropped nearly 10% after Waymo announced plans to launch a robotaxi service in Miami – this despite the fact that a true autonomous vehicle-flavored disruption to the ride-hail industry will take years, and that Uber may be one of the apps where riders end up connecting to those robotaxis.
Uber’s launch with WeRide, which went public on the Nasdaq in late October, will be small-scale, according to an Uber spokesperson. Uber and WeRide did not reveal how many vehicles will be on Abu Dhabi’s roads initially. First, the service will run between Saadiyat Island and Yas Island and on routes leading to and from Zayed International Airport. There are plans to expand this service in the future.
