The UAE issues the first national self-driving car license to WeRide

While other companies are testing self-driving cars in the United Arab Emirates, WeRide will be the first to receive a formal license to conduct such tests in the country

July 5, 2023 at 20:00

With the issuance of the UAE’s first national autonomous vehicle license, China WeRide WeRide will be able to test its autonomous vehicles across the UAE. Those drives are free to take place across the country, although the company’s Level 4 self-driving cars are still in the testing phase.

The announcement was made by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and ruler of Dubai, the country’s most populous city. According to WeRide, this is the first license of its kind in China and the first national license issued to an autonomous vehicle company in the world.

this Chinese company Indicates that the license will be used to test level 4 self-driving carwhich can take over all driving duties, but still has a steering wheel and pedals should a human driver wish to take over.

read: Robosweeper is a self-driving electric truck designed to clean and disinfect public roads

The UAE has decided to issue a national license to WeRide and at the same time announced plans to promote the technology within its borders. Dubai, for example, wants to automate 25 percent of its transport network by 2030.

Although this is the first national self-driving car license, several companies around the world are already testing driverless cars on public roads. WeRide and other companies, including GM’s Cruise, have previously tested self-driving cars in the UAE, albeit in more limited circumstances.

WeRide first started testing robotaxis on some public roads in the UAE last year. In early 2023, local company TXAI is offering free rides in robot taxis powered by WeRide to curious customers on Yas Island off the coast of the UAE capital Abu Dhabi. In addition, WeRide will start testing self-driving buses in neighboring Saudi Arabia in September 2022.

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China’s WeRide will be able to test its autonomous vehicles all across the United Arab Emirates, thanks to the issuance of the first-ever national self-driving vehicle license. Although the company will remain in the testing phase with its Level 4 autonomous vehicles, it will be free to conduct those drives in all parts of the country."
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The announcement was made by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the vice president of the UAE and the ruler of Dubai, the country’s most populous city. The first such license issued in the nation, it is also the first national-level license issued to an autonomous vehicle company globally, according to WeRide."
  [2]=>
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The Chinese company says that it will use the license to test Level 4 autonomous vehicles, which can take over all driving duties, but still have a steering wheel and pedals, should a human driver wish to take over."
  [3]=>
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Read: The Robosweeper Is An Autonomous EV Truck Designed To Clean And Sanitize Public Roads"
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The UAE’s decision to issue WeRide a national license came as it announced that it plans to drive the development of the technology within its borders. For instance, Dubai is looking to make 25 percent of its transportation network autonomous by 2030."
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Although this is the first national-level license for autonomous vehicles, a number of companies from around the globe have been testing driverless vehicles on public roads. WeRide and others, including Cruise, which is owned by General Motors, have previously tested self-driving vehicles in the UAE, albeit under more limiting circumstances."
  [6]=>
  string(371) "



WeRide first started testing robotaxis on certain public roads in the UAE last year. Earlier in 2023, local company TXAI offered curious customers free rides in its robotaxis powered by WeRide on the Yas Island, off the shore of Abu Dhabi, the UAE’s capital. In addition, WeRide started testing autonomous buses in neighboring Saudi Arabia in September 2022."
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