Uber Launches Driverless Robotaxi Service in Abu Dhabi, and Plans Many More (techcrunch.com)
- Reference: 0180237053
- News link: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/11/29/0727225/uber-launches-driverless-robotaxi-service-in-abu-dhabi-and-plans-many-more
- Source link: https://techcrunch.com/2025/11/25/uber-and-werides-robotaxi-service-in-abu-dhabi-is-officially-driverless/
A company official hailed it as "a historic transportation milestone, as the [3]first driverless AV deployment outside of the U.S. or China ." But TechCrunch notes that's just the beginning:
> Uber has spent the past two years locking up partnerships with 20 autonomous vehicle technology companies in various countries, including the United States, Europe, and the Middle East.
>
> Those partnerships have expanded beyond the realm of robotaxis as well. Uber's deals span the full range of self-driving applications, including delivery and trucking. This year alone, it announced partnerships withAnn Arbor, Michigan-based [4]May Mobility and [5]Volkswagen , Chinese self-driving firms Momenta,Pony.ai, and Baidu, as well as a recent deal to create a [6]premium robotaxi service using Lucid Gravity SUVs equipped with a self-driving system from San Francisco-based startup Nuro.
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> These deals are finally beginning to materialize into commercial services. For instance, Uber and Waymo launched a robotaxi service earlier this year in Austin. Now, Uber has expanded to the Middle East with WeRide in Abu Dhabi — with even more cities to come, including Dubai. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi forecast in the company's third-quarter earnings report that there would be autonomous vehicle deployments on the Uber network [7]in at least 10 cities by the end of 2026. Uber and WeRide have previously shared plans to expand to 15 cities throughout the Middle East and Europe, eventually scaling to thousands of robotaxis. That would represent a massive leap for WeRide, which today has more than 150 robotaxis in the region.
[1] https://techcrunch.com/2024/12/06/uber-and-weride-launch-robotaxi-service-in-abu-dhabi/
[2] https://techcrunch.com/2025/11/25/uber-and-werides-robotaxi-service-in-abu-dhabi-is-officially-driverless/
[3] https://investor.uber.com/news-events/news/press-release-details/2025/WeRide-and-Uber-Launch-Middle-Easts-First-Fully-Driverless-Robotaxi-Commercial-Operations-in-Abu-Dhabi-UAE/default.aspx
[4] https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/01/may-mobility-to-launch-robotaxis-on-uber-platform-this-year-in-texas/
[5] https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/24/uber-and-volkswagen-pair-up-to-launch-robotaxi-service-with-self-driving-electric-microbuses/
[6] https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/29/uber-to-launch-a-premium-robotaxi-service-in-waymos-turf-of-san-francisco/
[7] https://s23.q4cdn.com/407969754/files/doc_events/2025/Nov/04/Uber-Q3-25-Prepared-Remarks.pdf
they can kill / injure people and just pay off the (Score:2)
they can kill / injure people and just pay off the victim with no big court cases to get in the way.
Drives the speed limit? (Score:1)
Do most (human) drivers respect the speed limit in Abu Dhabi? I assume Uber has to make sure the driverless robotaxi's follow all road laws, including the speed limit, which on many North American roads would place the robotaxi 10, even 20 km/hr slower than the other cars on the road.
Re: Drives the speed limit? (Score:2)
The problem is drunk and other impaired drivers. We could have nationwide highway speed limit of 75 but we know there'd be more accidents. In contrast a robot car should be allowed to travel at the maximum safe speed given the situation. I don't want to ride down the road at exactly 35 MPH at midnight when nobody is around.
Why a fleet of black cars? (Score:2)
In Abu Dhabi, of all places, where thy need mire energy to cool? Sure, they got plenty of oil and when that's gone, plenty of sun - but this is still stupid just for the sake of it.
Bring it to Australia... (Score:2)
If riding in one of these driverless cars would cost less than riding in a conventional taxi or Uber, I would definitely use them for the rare occasions when public transport won't work.