WeRide, Uber, and AVOMO Secure Spain’s First National Permit for Level 4 Autonomous Ride-Hailing — WeRide Inc.

Event summary

WeRide, Uber, and AVOMO received Spain’s first national permit for Level 4 autonomous passenger vehicles under the DGT ES-AV framework.
The permit authorizes testing of WeRide’s GXR autonomous vehicles in Madrid, with commercial operations expected by the end of 2026.
The deployment will initially involve 20 vehicles, marking the fourth city under the WeRide-Uber strategic partnership, with 11 more cities planned by 2030.
The partnership combines WeRide’s autonomous driving technology, Uber’s mobility platform, and AVOMO’s fleet operations expertise.

The big picture

This permit represents a critical regulatory milestone for autonomous vehicle deployment in Europe, positioning Spain as a key market for WeRide and Uber’s global expansion. The collaboration underscores the growing trend of tech and mobility companies partnering to accelerate the commercialization of autonomous services, leveraging existing ride-hailing infrastructure to reduce operational risks. The success of this deployment could influence regulatory frameworks and market strategies across the EU.

What we're watching

Regulatory Benchmark: Whether Spain’s approval sets a precedent for future EU-wide certification and commercialization of autonomous vehicles.
Market Expansion: The pace at which WeRide and Uber deploy autonomous services in the remaining 11 cities under their partnership by 2030.
Operational Scaling: How WeRide’s asset-light strategy and AVOMO’s fleet management expertise will impact the scalability of autonomous ride-hailing in Europe.