Latest news with #WeRide
Malay Mail
11 hours ago
- Automotive
- Malay Mail
Report: Baidu's Apollo Go robotaxis may hit Malaysia, Singapore roads in 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, June 20 — Baidu is planning to launch its Apollo Go robotaxi operations in Malaysia and Singapore as early as this year, Bloomberg reported today. A person familiar with the matter said the move is part of the Chinese tech giant's broader push to extend its global footprint beyond China. They added discussions are ongoing with potential local partners to identify suitable business models for the two markets. 'We are looking at mobility service providers, local taxi companies and third-party fleet operators,' Baidu Chief Executive Robin Li has previously said, describing the company's preference for an 'asset-light approach'. The timing of Baidu's planned expansion coincides with growing momentum in the global autonomous vehicle race. Tesla is set to unveil its Cybercab robotaxi network within days, with CEO Elon Musk betting big on autonomous driving to fuel future growth. Baidu's Apollo Go is among a trio of Chinese robotaxi companies — alongside WeRide and — stepping up efforts to enter markets in the Middle East, Europe, and South-east Asia. The Apollo Go service has already made strides at home. It has deployed more than 1,000 autonomous vehicles worldwide, mostly in China, and notched 11 million rides as of the first quarter of 2025. That puts it ahead of US rival Waymo, Alphabet Inc.'s self-driving unit, which reported 10 million paid rides as of May. Beyond South-east Asia, Baidu is also eyeing new frontiers in Europe and Turkey. It has been in talks with PostAuto, a subsidiary of Swiss Post, to introduce robotaxis in Switzerland. Baidu has yet to issue an official statement on its South-east Asia plans.
Gulf Today
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Gulf Today
Trial run of robo-taxis by year end
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Uber Technologies, Inc (NYSE: UBER), the world's leading technology platform for mobility and delivery, and WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD), a global leader in autonomous driving technology. Under the agreement, pilot operations of autonomous vehicles will commence later this year via Uber app in Dubai. In the initial phase, the vehicles will operate with a safety driver on board, paving the way for the full-scale commercial rollout of driverless services in 2026. Field preparations for the pilot phase are already underway, led by Uber and WeRide, with strategic support and supervision from RTA. Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), along with Madhu Kannan, Chief Business Officer at Uber, and Ryan Zhan, Regional General Manager of Middle East and Africa at WeRide attended the MoU signing ceremony. The agreement was signed for RTA by Ahmed Hashim Bahrozyan, CEO of the Public Transport Agency, RTA; for Uber by Frans Hiemstra, Regional General Manager for the Middle East and Africa at Uber; and for WeRide by Eric Dong, Director of Capital Markets and Corporate Development at WeRide, in the presence of senior officials from all parties. Al Tayer expressed his pleasure at signing the MoU with Uber Technologies and WeRide, praising both companies for choosing Dubai as the global hub for expanding autonomous vehicle operations. Al Tayer stated: 'The introduction of autonomous vehicles in Dubai represents a significant leap towards a smart and sustainable future for mobility, in line with the vision of our leadership to transform Dubai into the world's smartest city. It also supports the objectives of Dubai Smart Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which seeks to convert 25% of all mobility journeys in the emirate into autonomous trips across various transport modes by 2030. This MoU reinforces Dubai's global leadership in adopting advanced and sustainable transport solutions, embracing state-of-the-art technologies, and fostering innovative mobility initiatives.' Al Tayer added: 'Autonomous vehicles mark a major leap towards a more sustainable and safer future in transportation. The RTA is expanding its global partnerships to deploy a wide range of autonomous mobility solutions, including self-driving vehicles, air taxis, marine transport modes, and autonomous taxis.
Hi Dubai
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Hi Dubai
RTA Partners with Uber and WeRide to Launch Autonomous Vehicle Pilot in 2025
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has signed a landmark agreement with Uber Technologies and autonomous driving leader WeRide to begin pilot operations of self-driving vehicles in the city later this year. The move marks a significant step toward Dubai's vision of smart, sustainable mobility, with fully driverless services planned for commercial rollout by 2026. Under the Memorandum of Understanding, autonomous vehicles will initially operate through the Uber app with a safety driver onboard. The pilot phase, currently under preparation by Uber and WeRide, will be overseen and supported strategically by the RTA. His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director General of RTA, emphasized that the initiative aligns with Dubai's goal to convert 25% of all trips into autonomous journeys by 2030. He described the collaboration as reinforcing Dubai's status as a global hub for advanced and sustainable transport solutions. Uber's Regional General Manager for the Middle East and Africa, Frans Hiemstra, highlighted the partnership as part of Uber's commitment to making autonomous, electric, and shared transportation accessible worldwide. Meanwhile, WeRide's CFO Jennifer Li noted the Middle East as a key region in the company's international expansion, expressing pride in supporting Dubai's ambitious smart mobility targets. The pilot program represents Dubai's broader strategy to integrate autonomous vehicles across multiple transport modes, enhancing road safety, sustainability, and connectivity. As governments and tech firms accelerate development and regulation, Dubai aims to lead the global transition toward autonomous urban mobility. News Source: Dubai Media Office
Gulf Insider
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Gulf Insider
Dubai To Start Driverless Taxi Trials With Uber, WeRide This Year
Dubai is gearing up to take another bold leap in its smart mobility journey. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced today that it has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding with Uber Technologies, Inc. and WeRide, a global autonomous driving leader, to kickstart pilot operations of self-driving taxis later this year. Initially, the autonomous vehicles (AVs) will operate with a safety driver on board and be available via the Uber app. These trials aim to pave the way for the full-scale, driverless commercial rollout of robotaxis in Dubai by 2026, aligning closely with the city's vision of making 25 per cent of all trips in Dubai autonomous by 2030. Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority signs a Memorandum of Understanding with Uber Technologies, Inc, the world's leading technology platform for mobility and delivery, and WeRide, a global leader in autonomous driving technology. Under the agreement, pilot operations of… — Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) June 15, 2025 The announcement follows RTA's strategic expansion of partnerships with major global AV technology providers, including Uber, WeRide, and Baidu's Apollo Go. These collaborations are part of the city's broader Self-Driving Transport Strategy and aim to establish Dubai as a global testing ground for next-gen mobility solutions. 'The introduction of autonomous vehicles in Dubai represents a significant leap towards a smart and sustainable future for mobility, in line with the vision of our leadership to transform Dubai into the world's smartest city,' said Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA. 'This MoU reinforces Dubai's global leadership in adopting advanced and sustainable transport solutions, embracing state-of-the-art technologies, and fostering innovative mobility initiatives.' The partnerships, he added, also support the goals of the Dubai Smart Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which seeks to convert 25% of all mobility journeys in the emirate into autonomous trips across various transport modes by 2030. The collaboration is also part of RTA's First and Last-Mile Strategy, designed to streamline travel between public transport stations and commuters' starting or ending points. WeRide, which already launched robotaxis in Abu Dhabi in 2021, now deepens its presence in the UAE with this Dubai pilot. Baidu, meanwhile, is preparing its debut via its autonomous ride-hailing platform Apollo Go, which has already logged more than 150 million kilometers of autonomous driving in China. This marks Dubai as a key international hub for AV expansion beyond East Asia, North America, and Europe. 'We're building the future of transportation by collaborating with top AV innovators to bring this technology to cities across the world,' said Noah Zych, Uber's Global Head of Autonomous Mobility and Delivery Operations. 'Dubai is a natural next step.' WeRide operates in over 30 cities across 10 countries and holds driverless permits in the UAE, China, the US, Singapore, and France. Its tie-up with Uber in Dubai is its second regional collaboration after Abu Dhabi. RTA sees autonomous vehicles as a critical tool for reducing traffic accidents—90 per cent of which are caused by human error. AVs also expand access to transport for people of determination, the elderly, and others with limited mobility. Baidu's Apollo Go, which will also offer its services through its dedicated app in Dubai, has become the world's largest operator of driverless fleets. Its sixth-generation robotaxi, the RT6, has been widely welcomed by riders in China for comfort, safety, and efficiency. By 2026, Dubai's streets could see fully driverless taxis becoming a familiar sight. Residents and visitors will be able to hail WeRide vehicles using Uber, while Baidu's Apollo Go app will offer another alternative. Today's signing signals more than just a test run—it's Dubai's commitment to redefining urban mobility. With multiple global AV leaders now plugged into the city's ecosystem, the emirate is positioning itself at the forefront of the driverless revolution in the region.
Gulf Business
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Gulf Business
Timeline revealed: Driverless Ubers to hit Dubai roads
Image credit: Dubai Media Office/Website Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: UBER), a global leader in ride-hailing and delivery, and WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD), a leading autonomous driving technology firm. Under the agreement, autonomous vehicles will begin pilot operations via the Uber app in Dubai later this year. Read- The initial phase will feature autonomous vehicles operating with a safety driver onboard to monitor performance and ensure safety. The full commercial rollout of driverless services is scheduled for 2026, Field preparations for the pilot program are currently underway, led by Uber and WeRide with strategic oversight and support from the RTA. Image credit: Dubai Media Office/Website The MoU signing ceremony was attended by Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors at RTA; Madhu Kannan, Chief Business Officer at Uber; and Ryan Zhan, Regional General Manager of Middle East and Africa at WeRide. The agreement was signed by senior representatives from all three organizations, including Ahmed Hashim Bahrozyan, CEO of RTA's Public Transport Agency; Frans Hiemstra, Regional General Manager for MEA at Uber; and Eric Dong, Director of Capital Markets and Corporate Development at WeRide. Supporting Dubai's smart mobility vision Mattar Al Tayer hailed the agreement as a strategic step toward positioning Dubai as a global leader in smart and sustainable transport solutions. 'The introduction of autonomous vehicles in Dubai represents a significant leap toward a smart and sustainable mobility future, aligned with the leadership's vision to transform Dubai into the world's smartest city,' Al Tayer said. 'This initiative supports the Dubai Smart Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which aims to convert 25 per cent of all journeys in Dubai to autonomous transport by 2030.' Al Tayer emphasised that this agreement reflects Dubai's commitment to adopting advanced technologies and innovative transport solutions that align with global best practices. Strengthening global partnerships In his remarks, Al Tayer highlighted the role of global collaboration in advancing autonomous mobility. 'The RTA is expanding its network of international partners to deploy a diverse range of autonomous mobility solutions, including self-driving taxis, air taxis, and marine transport modes,' he said. 'This will enhance road safety, improve quality of life for residents and visitors, and support first and last-mile connectivity across the public transport network.' He added that the transition to autonomous mobility is no longer a futuristic concept but an emerging reality. 'Technology developers and governments worldwide are accelerating efforts to build infrastructure and regulatory frameworks that enable the safe deployment of autonomous vehicles,' Al Tayer noted. Uber and WeRide align with Dubai's vision Frans Hiemstra, Regional General Manager for the Middle East and Africa at Uber, underscored the importance of the Dubai launch in Uber's global strategy. 'At Uber, we are building the future of transportation—autonomous, electric, and shared,' Hiemstra said. 'We're excited to launch in Dubai with WeRide as our first technology partner. This marks a key milestone in making autonomous vehicle services more accessible globally.' Jennifer Li, Chief Financial Officer and Head of International at WeRide, echoed the sentiment, calling the MoU a major step forward in the company's regional expansion. 'The Middle East is a strategic priority for us,' Li said. 'Just last month, we expanded our partnership with Uber to deploy robotaxis in 15 additional cities globally. This new agreement with RTA and Uber strengthens our commitment to Dubai's goal of making 25 per cent of all transportation autonomous by 2030.' Li added that WeRide's advanced autonomous driving technology and global deployment experience position it to be a key enabler of this transformation. Conclusion The collaboration between RTA, Uber, and WeRide marks a pivotal milestone in Dubai's efforts to lead the world in autonomous mobility. With pilot testing set to begin by the end of 2025 and a full commercial launch planned for 2026, Dubai is firmly on track to become a global testbed for cutting-edge transportation technologies.
