Uber and WeRide ramp up robotaxi operations in Dubai

Uber and Chinese autonomous vehicle company WeRide have launched robotaxi operations without a human safety operator in Dubai as part of a broader expansion in the Middle East. Riders can now book the vehicles through Uber’s app, with operations in commercial and industrial districts like   Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai Investment Park Second, and Jabal Ali Industrial First, as well as suburban areas and the maritime trading hub Al Hamriya Port. The service is operated locally by Tawasul, a mobility and fleet operator in the United Arab Emirates. The companies first introduced robotaxis to Dubai in December under a pilot program but didn’t charge for rides and still had a human safety operator on board. The government’s Roads and Transport Authority issued a driverless vehicle trial permit to the companies last month. The deployment signals an escalation in WeRide’s robotaxi operations in the region and Uber’s continued involvement in the company. Uber holds a 5.82% stake in WeRide, according to documents filed Monday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Last year, it invested $100 million into WeRide. Uber’s equity stake is valued at around $150 million based on WeRide’s closing stock price on Monday. “Bringing fully driverless vehicles to Dubai is an important milestone in making autonomous mobility a global reality,” Sarfraz Maredia, Uber’s global head of autonomous mobility and delivery, said in a statement. …