WeRide Robobus obtains Belgium's first federal L4 autonomous driving license

Beijing (Gasgoo)- On Sept. 19, autonomous driving company WeRide announced that its autonomous shuttle (Robobus) has been granted Belgium's first federal Level 4 autonomous driving test license. With this milestone, WeRide becomes the only global tech company holding autonomous driving licenses in seven countries: Belgium, China, France, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and the U.S.

The license was signed by Jean-Luc Crucke, Belgium's Minister of Mobility, Climate and Ecological Transition, during an autonomous mobility summit this week. It authorizes Robobus to operate on an 8-km public road loop between Leuven and Heverlee, with nine stops along the route. The project is being carried out in collaboration with Flemish public transport operator De Lijn, the Leuven government, and mobility consultancy Espaces-Mobilités.

Following a comprehensive safety assessment by Belgium's Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport, the license was issued for pilot testing. Pending final approval from Flemish authorities, WeRide plans to launch the trial within weeks, initially with a safety operator onboard.

After the test phase, De Lijn aims to begin pilot operations between mid-November 2025 and late January 2026. This would mark Belgium's first commercial deployment of autonomous vehicles in mixed-traffic environments. Passengers will be able to purchase tickets via digital platforms, SMS, or subscription services. Longer-term, the project is expected to transition to regular operation.