WeRide, Uber and AVOMO have received Spain’s first national permit for Level 4 autonomous passenger vehicles on public roads, with an initial fleet of 20 vehicles planned for the Greater Madrid region. The authorization was issued by Spain’s Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) under its ES-AV framework, according to a joint announcement made in collaboration with the Regional Government of Madrid. The companies say the permit opens the way to what would be Spain’s first commercial autonomous vehicle service, with operations expected to begin by the end of 2026.
Highlights
- 20 vehicles in the initial phase, running WeRide’s latest autonomous driving stack with an in-car vehicle specialist on board
- Fourth of 15 cities under the WeRide-Uber partnership, with 11 more planned by 2030
- Commercial operations targeted by the end of 2026, pending deployment preparations and further operational and regulatory milestones
- First national approval in the EU for WeRide’s GXR autonomous vehicle, according to the company
What Does the ES-AV Permit Allow?
The permit authorizes WeRide, Uber and AVOMO to begin deployment preparation work in Spain, including mapping, route validation and operational readiness testing. Those activities establish the foundation for future commercial autonomous passenger transport services under the DGT ES-AV framework, the companies say.
The authorization is the first national approval in the EU for WeRide’s GXR, and the company describes it as a regulatory benchmark for future vehicle certification and commercialization across the region. WeRide also says the Spanish permit is its ninth autonomous driving permit worldwide.
Madrid Deployment Plan
The initial phase will place 20 vehicles equipped with WeRide’s latest autonomous driving technology across several high-demand areas of the Greater Madrid region. Each vehicle will operate under the supervision of an in-car vehicle specialist.
Each partner brings a defined role to the deployment:
- WeRide supplies the autonomous driving technology and the GXR vehicle platform
- Uber provides the ride-hailing platform on which the service will run
- AVOMO, the autonomous vehicle division of the Moove Cars Group, handles fleet operations; the company says it currently manages around 400 autonomous vehicles in Austin and Atlanta with a team of more than 200 specialists
The companies frame this structure as an example of WeRide’s asset-light operating strategy, with the three parties combining technology, platform and fleet-operations expertise into a repeatable framework for autonomous ride-hailing.
Fourth City in the 15-City Partnership
The Madrid deployment marks WeRide and Uber’s joint entry into the Spanish market and is the fourth of the 15 cities covered by the companies’ expanded strategic partnership, with another 11 cities to follow by 2030. Under the partnership, WeRide and Uber plan to deploy tens of thousands of autonomous vehicles on public roads globally.
The service is also the first planned autonomous vehicle deployment by Uber and WeRide in Europe. The companies say the Community of Madrid’s commuting demand and established ride-hailing market make it a suitable base for autonomous mobility services, and they expect the deployment to serve as a foundation for future autonomous transport services in Spain and the broader European market.
Executive Comments
“Receiving this permit is a significant achievement for WeRide as it marks our ninth autonomous driving permit worldwide and a testament to our global leadership in commercializing autonomous vehicle services. The Madrid region is a key gateway for our European expansion, and together with partners like Uber and AVOMO, we are one step closer to bringing autonomous mobility to Spain before the end of 2026,” said Jennifer Li, CFO and Head of International at WeRide.
“This permit marks an important milestone in bringing autonomous mobility from planning into real-world deployment. The Madrid region is quickly establishing itself as one of Europe’s most forward-looking environments for autonomous mobility, and we’re excited to be working alongside our partners to help make that vision a reality,” said Sarfraz Maredia, Global Head of Autonomous Mobility & Delivery at Uber.
“Every successful autonomous vehicle deployment begins long before the first commercial ride. Our experience managing autonomous fleets in the United States has shown that careful preparation, rigorous operational processes, and safety-first execution are the foundation for scaling these services,” said Manuel Puga, CEO of Moove Cars Group.
