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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
