WeRide and Uber plan to launch a commercial robotaxi service in the Greater Zurich Region later this year, expanding their autonomous mobility partnership into Switzerland.
The companies said the service will be available through the Uber app, subject to regulatory approvals and in collaboration with Switzerland’s Federal Roads Office (FEDRO).
Zurich will become the fifth city covered under WeRide and Uber’s global partnership, which targets deployments across 15 cities worldwide.
Second European Expansion in Two Weeks
The Zurich announcement follows plans unveiled earlier this month to introduce robotaxi services in Madrid, marking the second European market announced by the partners within two weeks.
According to the companies, Europe is a key focus area as they continue to expand autonomous mobility services internationally.
“Europe is a priority region for WeRide, and announcing two European markets in two weeks reflects the speed and efficiency of our expansion strategy,” said Jennifer Li, Chief Financial Officer and Head of International at WeRide.
“Zurich’s status as a global business centre and premium mobility market makes it an attractive city for Robotaxi commercialization as we scale autonomous mobility with Uber worldwide.”
Building on Existing Autonomous Driving Approval
The planned deployment builds on previous regulatory progress achieved by WeRide in Switzerland.
The company previously obtained a driverless testing permit from FEDRO covering the Furttal region near Zurich, allowing its autonomous vehicles to operate on public roads without a driver under approved conditions.
The companies said operations in Zurich are expected to scale gradually as performance targets and regulatory requirements are met.
A transition to fully driverless commercial services in selected urban areas is planned over time.
Local Operations Managed by Rydera
Under the deployment model, local mobility and logistics company Rydera will oversee daily fleet operations in Zurich.
The arrangement aligns with WeRide’s asset-light strategy, which relies on local partners to support fleet management and operational activities while WeRide provides autonomous driving technology.
The service will operate using WeRide’s autonomous driving platform and simulation tools, including its WeRide One and GENESIS systems.
Switzerland Seen as Key Autonomous Mobility Market
The companies cited Switzerland’s regulatory framework and mature mobility market as factors supporting commercial autonomous vehicle deployment.
Uber said the country offers favorable conditions for expanding autonomous ride-hailing services in Europe.
“Switzerland is a key market for autonomous mobility, combining forward-thinking regulation with a demand for high-quality ride-hailing solutions,” said Sarfraz Maredia, Global Head of Autonomous Mobility & Delivery at Uber.
“Our partnership with WeRide continues to gain momentum across Europe, and we are excited to apply our operational expertise to bring this next generation of autonomous rides to Zurich.”
Expanding a Global Partnership
The Zurich launch builds on existing robotaxi operations established by WeRide and Uber in the Middle East.
The companies currently operate autonomous ride-hailing services in Abu Dhabi and Dubai and have launched public operations in Riyadh.
