Chinese autonomous driving technology company WeRide has entered the Slovakian market through a strategic partnership aimed at launching the country’s first national-level commercial autonomous driving initiative.
The company said on Thursday it had partnered with Elevate Slovakia, a multi-stakeholder initiative, to deploy a range of autonomous mobility solutions, marking its expansion into its 12th global market.
The project represents Europe’s first large-scale, state-supported commercialization effort for autonomous driving, according to the company, and makes Slovakia the fourth European country in WeRide’s portfolio.
Under the agreement, WeRide will introduce its full lineup of autonomous products, including robotaxis, Robobus shuttles, Robovan delivery vehicles, and Robosweeper sanitation units. These will be used for passenger transport, logistics services, and municipal operations.
An initial fleet of self-driving vehicles is expected to arrive in spring 2026, with road testing scheduled to begin in the capital, Bratislava, in the first half of the year. Subject to regulatory approval and safety validation, testing is planned to expand to other cities, including Košice, as the project moves toward broader commercial deployment.
Founded in 2017, WeRide has obtained autonomous driving permits in multiple markets, including China, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, France, and the United States. The company said its global robotaxi fleet exceeded 1,000 vehicles earlier this year.
WeRide aims to scale its operations significantly, targeting tens of thousands of robotaxis worldwide by 2030.
The company has also pursued capital market expansion in recent years, listing on the Nasdaq Stock Market in October 2024 and later debuting on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in November 2025.