Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On May 27, 2025, WeRide, a Chinese autonomous driving technology company, announced its strategic expansion into the Saudi Arabian market, marking a significant milestone in the company's global commercialization roadmap.
As the first step, WeRide has launched and tested a range of autonomous mobility solutions—including Robotaxi, Robobus, and Robosweeper—in key Saudi cities such as Riyadh and AlUla, laying the groundwork for large-scale commercial operations across the country.
With strong support from the Transport General Authority (TGA), WeRide has already completed substantial preparatory work and plans to begin pilot operations of its Robotaxi service via the Uber platform in the coming months. Full-scale commercial deployment is targeted within 2025. By introducing autonomous mobility innovations, WeRide aims to enhance road safety and streamline traffic management, contributing meaningfully to the Saudi Vision 2030 and the development of smart, sustainable urban clusters.
The company has also deployed its Robobus in several strategic locations across Saudi Arabia, including King Fahad Medical City, Aramco's employee residential areas, AlUla, and The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh. These deployments are helping to create efficient transit links between industrial parks, tourist attractions, and emerging urban districts. Powered by L4 autonomous driving technology, the Robobus has proven its reliability even under Saudi Arabia's extreme heat, providing access to areas underserved by conventional transportation and complementing newly launched infrastructure such as the Riyadh Metro. These services aim to improve urban mobility and solve last-mile transportation challenges.
WeRide's rapid progress in Saudi Arabia aligns closely with the country's economic diversification under the Saudi Vision 2030. As the largest economy in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia recorded a GDP of USD 1.09 trillion in 2023. Its tourism sector is also growing rapidly, with market value expected to reach USD 110.1 billion by 2033, reflecting a projected compound annual growth rate of 8.4% from 2024 to 2033. Against this backdrop, WeRide's Robotaxi and Robobus solutions are poised to support the development of a smarter, more sustainable transportation infrastructure—enhancing mobility for both local residents and the increasing number of international visitors.
Additionally, WeRide's autonomous street-sweeping vehicle, the Robosweeper S1, has commenced operations at King Fahad Medical City under the Riyadh Second Health Cluster. This marks the first commercial deployment of an unmanned sanitation vehicle in both Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East region.
