WeRide and Uber bring Robotaxis to Madrid

Benjamin Müller Benjamin Müller International Editor for ADT, aIT, AP & All-Electr.

11 June 2026 - 17:10

2 min

Rather than operating fleets directly, WeRide works with local partners that provide vehicles, operational support and market access.

Uber / Bernd Jaworek

WeRide and Uber are taking their Robotaxi partnership to Europe. Madrid will host the first commercial pilot, offering a glimpse into how autonomous ride-hailing could scale across regulated urban markets.

WeRide and Uber are preparing their first joint Robotaxi deployment in Europe. The companies plan to launch a commercial pilot in Madrid later this year, allowing passengers to book autonomous rides directly through the Uber app.

The move marks a significant milestone for both companies. After launching joint Robotaxi services in the Middle East, Madrid becomes their first shared entry point into the European market.

For autonomous mobility providers, Europe represents a particularly important test case. The region combines dense urban environments, strict regulatory requirements and high expectations around safety, making it one of the most challenging markets for commercial deployment.

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How will the Madrid pilot operate?

The Robotaxi service will initially launch with safety drivers behind the wheel. Over time, the partners aim to transition towards fully driverless operations.

Fleet expansion will follow a phased approach. According to the companies, deployment targets are tied to predefined performance indicators, including operational safety, service reliability and geographic expansion into more central urban areas.

The long-term ambition is considerably larger. Once operational targets have been achieved, the partners intend to scale the fleet to hundreds of vehicles across the region.

What role does each partner play?

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The Madrid deployment follows WeRide’s asset-light business model. Rather than operating fleets directly, the company works with local partners that provide vehicles, operational support and market access.

In Madrid, mobility provider Avomo, part of the Moove Cars Group, will manage local fleet operations. WeRide supplies the autonomous driving technology, while Uber provides the customer-facing platform and ride-hailing infrastructure.

The division of responsibilities reflects a broader industry trend. Autonomous driving specialists increasingly focus on software and vehicle intelligence, while established mobility operators manage fleet deployment and customer acquisition.

Which technology powers the Robotaxi service?

The service is built on WeRide’s autonomous driving stack and the company’s WeRide One platform.

According to WeRide, the platform combines autonomous driving software with simulation capabilities designed to accelerate deployment and validation across different operating environments.

The technology has already been deployed in commercial Robotaxi operations outside Europe, providing the companies with real-world operational data before entering more complex regulatory markets.

Group of people standing in front of an Uber-branded backdrop at a technology event. — Both companies describe Madrid as an attractive environment for autonomous mobility deployment.

Why was Madrid chosen as the launch market?

The Spanish capital combines strong mobility demand, dense urban infrastructure and a regulatory environment that is considered supportive of innovation. These factors allow companies to validate autonomous services in conditions that closely resemble future large-scale commercial operations.

For WeRide, the launch also expands its European footprint. Spain becomes the company’s fifth European market, underlining its broader ambition to establish a presence across multiple regions before scaling further.

What does the launch mean for the Robotaxi market?

The Madrid pilot forms part of a much larger strategic partnership between WeRide and Uber.

The companies plan to launch Robotaxi services in 15 cities by 2030, with tens of thousands of autonomous vehicles expected to operate globally over time. Driverless services are already running in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, while additional markets, including Riyadh, have been announced.

The European launch therefore represents more than a local pilot. It serves as an important test of whether autonomous ride-hailing can scale within one of the world's most highly regulated mobility environments.

Success in Madrid would strengthen the case for wider deployment across Europe and provide valuable evidence that Robotaxi services can operate commercially beyond early adopter markets.