WeRide announced today that it has secured a permit for the public road testing and operation of fully autonomous vehicles in France, working alongside French autonomous mobility operator beti. Strategic achievement positions WeRide as the first and only technology company holding autonomous driving licenses across five countries: China, the UAE, Singapore, France, and the United States.
The newly acquired French permit allows WeRide’s autonomous minibus to operate at speeds reaching 40 km/h, making it the fastest fully driverless road testing permit granted in France to date.
“We’re committed to accelerating autonomous technology adoption worldwide,” a WeRide spokesperson stated. “Our presence in five regulatory environments demonstrates the scalability and adaptability of our technology stack.”
The company reports conducting autonomous driving research, testing, and operations in 30 cities spanning 10 countries. WeRide’s factory-installed autonomous solutions haven’t remained confined to laboratoriesātheir robotaxis, robobuses, and robosweepers are actively deployed across France, Spain, Switzerland, Singapore, the UAE, and Japan.
Prior to this regulatory approval, WeRide had already established a foothold in Europe. The company previously joined forces with Renault Group, beti, and insurance provider Macif to launch an L4 autonomous mobility service in DrƓme, France.
The French permit represents more than just regulatory complianceāit signals growing institutional trust in WeRide’s technical capabilities and safety protocols. As autonomous vehicle testing expands globally, WeRide’s five-country presence gives it unique insights into varied regulatory approaches and cultural attitudes toward self-driving technology.
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