WeRide and Uber Expand Robotaxi Services to Madrid in Major European Market Entry

The WeRide robotaxi service will make its European debut later this year as WeRide and Uber prepare to launch a commercial robotaxi pilot program in Madrid. The deployment represents the first joint expansion of the two companies into the European market and will make Madrid the 12th city worldwide where WeRide operates robotaxi services. Local users will be able to request autonomous rides directly through the Uber application, providing wider public access to self-driving mobility solutions in one of Europe's largest urban centers.

During the initial operating phase, the autonomous vehicles will include professionally trained safety operators to help ensure reliable and secure transportation. As operational performance targets are achieved, the partners intend to gradually increase fleet deployment and expand service availability. The long-term objective includes deploying hundreds of robotaxis and eventually supporting fully driverless commercial operations across major parts of Madrid.

Madrid Project Expansion Overview

The Madrid launch strengthens the collaboration between WeRide and Uber following successful autonomous mobility deployments in the Middle East. The companies have already introduced fully driverless robotaxi services in United Arab Emirates cities including Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Additional robotaxi deployment plans are also progressing in Saudi Arabia, where Riyadh is expected to receive commercial services in the near future.

The expansion into Spain represents WeRide's fifth European market and reflects the company's asset-light growth strategy. Rather than building extensive local operating infrastructure independently, WeRide collaborates with regional partners that possess operational expertise and established transportation networks. This approach is intended to accelerate commercialization while reducing deployment complexity across multiple international markets.

Operational Structure for Madrid Robotaxi Service

Daily fleet operations in Madrid will combine WeRide's autonomous driving technology with local operational support from Avomo, a Moove Cars Group company. Avomo will oversee fleet management activities while leveraging experience gained through its relationship with Uber in U.S. cities such as Atlanta and Austin. The partnership structure allows each organization to focus on its core strengths, ranging from autonomous technology development to local fleet execution.

Madrid is viewed as an attractive commercial opportunity for robotaxi deployment because of its large population, strong transportation demand, and favorable urban mobility environment. These characteristics make the city a suitable location for scaling autonomous transportation services and evaluating long-term commercial viability.

Global Expansion Timeline and Deployment Targets

WeRide and Uber established a strategic partnership in September 2024 and launched robotaxi services on the Uber platform in the UAE later that year. The partnership expanded further in May 2025 when both companies announced plans to introduce services in 15 additional cities across Europe and the Middle East over a five-year period.

With Madrid joining the network, the companies have now completed deployments in four cities under their broader collaboration strategy. The remaining planned cities are expected to receive services progressively through 2030. The initiative ultimately aims to deploy tens of thousands of robotaxis globally, providing autonomous transportation options to a significantly larger customer base.

Key Facts About the Madrid Robotaxi Deployment

• Madrid becomes the 12th city globally with WeRide robotaxi operations.
• The service will launch commercially later this year.
• Initial operations will include trained safety operators.
• Fleet expansion is planned as operational targets are achieved.
• Long-term plans include fully driverless commercial services.

WeRide's Growing International Footprint

Company leadership highlighted the significance of operating in a rapidly growing European city with complex urban driving conditions. According to WeRide founder and CEO Tony Han, the Madrid deployment demonstrates the company's ability to safely operate autonomous vehicles in challenging real-world environments. Uber's global head of autonomous mobility and delivery, Sarfraz Maredia, noted that Madrid has the potential to become one of Europe's leading autonomous driving markets.

The Spain launch follows several international expansion milestones achieved by the company during the year. In March, WeRide entered Slovakia through the country's first national-level commercial autonomous deployment project. In April, the company partnered with Grab to introduce the first public robotaxi service in Singapore. These developments continue to broaden WeRide's global presence across multiple regions.

WeRide Global Expansion Milestones

WeRide's international footprint now spans 12 countries, while its autonomous taxi fleet has grown beyond 1,000 vehicles. The Madrid deployment further strengthens the company's strategy of expanding autonomous mobility services through partnerships, enabling broader commercialization while maintaining operational efficiency across global markets.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will the WeRide and Uber robotaxi service launch in Madrid?
The commercial robotaxi service is expected to begin operations in Madrid later this year as part of WeRide and Uber's first joint expansion into Europe. Initially, the service will include trained safety operators inside the vehicles to support operations and passenger confidence. Users will be able to request autonomous rides directly through the Uber application. Over time, the companies plan to increase fleet size, expand service coverage, and ultimately introduce fully driverless commercial operations across key urban areas of Madrid.

Why is Madrid important for WeRide's global robotaxi strategy?
Madrid represents a strategically important market due to its large population, strong transportation demand, and favorable urban mobility environment. The city also marks WeRide's entry into another major European market and supports the company's objective of expanding robotaxi services worldwide. Through partnerships with Uber and Avomo, WeRide can leverage local operational expertise while focusing on autonomous driving technology. The Madrid deployment contributes to a broader plan that aims to bring robotaxi services to multiple cities globally by 2030.