According to a company statement released on Saturday, WeRide will launch the new service in partnership with leading domestic automaker Chery Group and Jinjiang Taxi, a prominent local taxi operator. The collaboration will see the deployment of fully driverless robotaxis on public roads within the Pudong New Area—Shanghai's bustling financial and innovation hub.
The permit allows WeRide to operate robotaxis without human safety drivers on board, signaling growing confidence in the reliability and maturity of its autonomous driving systems. The vehicles will serve real passengers through a ride-hailing platform, placing Shanghai among a select group of global cities to host large-scale trials of commercial driverless transport.
This development follows a series of policy shifts by Chinese municipal governments, which are increasingly opening public roads to autonomous vehicle testing and limited commercial use. Shanghai, in particular, has become a focal point for smart city initiatives, with infrastructure and regulatory frameworks designed to accommodate emerging technologies like self-driving vehicles.
WeRide’s move into Shanghai adds to its existing operations in cities such as Guangzhou and Beijing, positioning the company as a frontrunner in China's autonomous mobility race. The partnership with Chery ensures vehicle manufacturing expertise, while Jinjiang Taxi brings operational insight into urban transport logistics.
As cities worldwide grapple with the future of urban mobility, Shanghai’s embrace of driverless taxis offers a glimpse into how technology, policy, and private enterprise can converge to redefine transportation norms.