Uber Technologies (NYSE:UBER) and WeRide, a Chinese self-driving technology firm, announced a partnership on Wednesday to introduce autonomous vehicles to Uber’s rideshare platform, starting in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The collaboration, set to launch in Abu Dhabi later this year, marks WeRide’s first venture with a global ride-hailing company, expanding its presence beyond China.
This move aligns with Uber's broader strategy of integrating robotaxis into its services.
Earlier this month, Uber extended its collaboration with Alphabet's Waymo (NASDAQ:GOOGL) to deploy robotaxis in Austin and Atlanta, and in August, the company partnered with General Motors' Cruise (NYSE:GM) to begin offering autonomous vehicles on its platform in 2025.
WeRide holds UAE's only national license for self-driving vehicles, granting the company the ability to test and operate its robotaxis on public roads throughout the country.
While the Chinese firm has been preparing for a potential $5 billion U.S. initial public offering (IPO), the process has been delayed as it continues working on the necessary documentation for the listing.