WeRide and Uber secure Spain permit

• WeRide, Uber, and AVOMO received Spain’s first national permit for Level 4 autonomous passenger vehicles on public roads.
• The authorization allows preparation for a planned autonomous ride-hailing service in Madrid by the end of 2026.
• The companies will deploy 20 autonomous vehicles initially under Spain’s DGT ES-AV framework.

WeRide (NASDAQ:WRD) Uber Technologies (NYSE:UBER), and AVOMO received Spain’s first national permit for Level 4 autonomous passenger vehicles, enabling preparations for a commercial autonomous service in Madrid.

The approval allows the companies to begin deployment activities in Spain, making Madrid the fourth city in the WeRide-Uber strategic partnership after plans to expand autonomous mobility services across 15 cities by 2030.

"Receiving this permit is a significant achievement for WeRide as it marks our ninth autonomous driving permit worldwide and a testament to our global leadership in commercializing autonomous vehicle services," said Jennifer Li, CFO and Head of International at WeRide.

The initial deployment phase will include 20 vehicles equipped with WeRide’s autonomous driving technology, with operations covering high-demand areas across the Greater Madrid region under supervision from an in-car vehicle specialist.

WeRide develops autonomous driving technologies, while Uber operates a global ride-hailing platform and AVOMO provides autonomous fleet management experience from the Moove Cars Group.

The companies said the Madrid deployment supports their broader autonomous mobility strategy, with commercial operations expected to begin by the end of 2026 after regulatory and operational preparations are completed.