WeRide and Uber Plan to Bring Robotaxis to Zurich

(CONNECT) According to a press release, Chinese technology provider WeRide and U.S. ride-hailing service Uber plan to launch a robotaxi service in the greater Zurich area. The two companies plan to launch the service later this year.

During the initial phase, the autonomous taxis will be available for booking through the Uber app. Rydera AG, which was founded in May, is responsible for operating the vehicles.

Approval from the Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) is required before the service can be launched. ASTRA had already given the green light in November 2025 for the use of WeRide autonomous vehicles, which are operating in the Furttal as part of the cantonal iamo pilot project.

WeRide has already put autonomous vehicles on the roads in 40 cities across twelve countries worldwide. In partnership with Uber, the Guangzhou-based company launched robotaxis in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates in December 2024, followed by robotaxis in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. Zurich is the second city in Europe, after Madrid, where the two companies plan to offer their autonomous taxi service.

As part of their current partnership, both companies plan to launch robotaxis in a total of 15 cities worldwide.

Europe is a priority for WeRide, according to Jennifer Li, CFO and Head of International at WeRide, as quoted in the press release. "Zurich's status as a global economic hub and premium market makes the city an attractive location for commercialisation as we scale up autonomous mobility in partnership with Uber."

Sarfaz Maredia, Global Head of Autonomous Mobility & Delivery, shares this view. "Switzerland is a key market for autonomous mobility. It combines forward-looking regulation with a demand for high-quality taxi services." ce/ug