WeRide, a Chinese autonomous driving company, has added UAE’s first national license for self-driving vehicles to its kitty. The license is first of its kind for the UAE. Through this permit, WeRide can test its Level 4 autonomous vehicles on public roads in the United Arab Emirates.
The license and national policy for electric vehicles (EVs) was approved by the UAE’s Council of Ministers on Monday. UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed said WeRide will begin testing all types of autonomous vehicles in the country.
Through the federal electric vehicles policy, UAE aims to build a national network of EV chargers, regulate the market and promote associated industries to ensure lower emissions and energy consumption. “The world is changing rapidly, leadership patterns are changing, and life in the country will change rapidly in the coming years, and the human being, his comfort and quality of life will remain the permanent constant in our governmental agenda,” the UAE prime minister said.
He added that Dubai aims to have 25 percent of its transportation fully autonomous by 2030. As such, the issuance of the self-driving license reflects a change in the country’s future mobility patterns.
WeRide began operations in the China-UAE Industrial Capacity Cooperation Demonstration Zone in March. It has been testing its robotaxis on some UAE roads for more than a year now. WeRide, as per various reports, will collaborate with Bayanat, a UAE artificial intelligence firm, to launch a robotaxi service in some areas of Abu Dhabi.
The Chinese company partnered with a Saudi Company for Artificial Intelligence in September 2022 to launch the first dynamic display route of the WeRide Mini Robobus (driverless bus) in Saudi Arabia.
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