Uber & WeRide Increasing Robotaxi Partnership to fifteen Extra Cities

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Uber and WeRide launched industrial robotaxi service in Abu Dhabi 5 months in the past. Apparently, that partnership goes effectively, as the businesses have now indicated that they plan to increase such service to fifteen extra cities within the subsequent 5 years.

Uber is clearly eyeing a robotaxi future. It’s investing $100 million extra into WeRide to make this plan occur — and that’s simply by the tip of 2025. This additionally is available in the identical week that the corporate’s CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, emphasised that Waymo robotaxis are outperforming Uber’s human-driven autos in Austin, Texas.

WeRide is a China-based autonomous driving firm, however it did acquire the proper to check robotaxis on California roads final yr. Uber and WeRide haven’t talked about getting into the US on this newest information, however a few of these 15 cities can be in Europe.

Uber’s partnership with Waymo is increasing into Atlanta quickly. It will be attention-grabbing if WeRide did enter US markets the place it was competing with Waymo. I’m undecided how Uber would deal with that. Perhaps it will simply use all of the robotaxis it might get. Nonetheless, I’m inclined to assume that WeRide will attempt to lock down sure cities, Waymo will deal with others, and it’s an extended methods off till they are going to be competing in a single metropolis — and doubtlessly each partnering with Uber.

Maybe it appeared at one time {that a} “robotaxi revolution” might occur quickly, however this gradual rollout of robotaxis in main cities around the globe is definitely the extra smart, sensible avenue. Robotaxis simply maintain creeping in quietly and scaling up step-by-step. We’ll see which steps are taken subsequent.