Uber and autonomous driving technology company WeRide have announced plans to launch commercial Robotaxi services in the Greater Zurich region, marking the latest step in their rapid European expansion.
The service is expected to begin operating later this year, subject to regulatory approval, and will allow passengers to book autonomous rides directly through the Uber app. The launch follows the companies’ recent announcement of a similar deployment in Madrid and represents their second European Robotaxi project unveiled within weeks.
The expansion highlights growing momentum for autonomous mobility across Europe as regulators, technology providers and transport operators work together to bring self-driving vehicles into commercial service.
Zurich Chosen As Strategic Robotaxi Market
According to the companies, Switzerland offers one of Europe’s most advanced regulatory environments for autonomous vehicles while also providing a strong ride-hailing market that supports long-term commercial viability.
The Robotaxi service will initially launch in collaboration with Switzerland’s Federal Roads Office (FEDRO), with fleet expansion expected to occur gradually as operational and performance milestones are achieved.
Over time, the partners aim to transition toward fully driverless commercial operations in selected urban areas, subject to regulatory approvals and safety requirements.
Local Partner To Manage Fleet Operations
As part of the deployment, Swiss mobility and logistics company Rydera will oversee daily fleet operations in Zurich.
The arrangement reflects WeRide’s asset-light expansion strategy, which relies on local operating partners to manage vehicles while leveraging Uber’s ride-hailing platform and customer base.
The model is designed to accelerate commercialization while reducing infrastructure and operational complexity as Robotaxi services expand into new markets.
Building On Existing Autonomous Operations
The Zurich launch builds on WeRide and Uber’s existing autonomous mobility deployments in the Middle East. Since late 2024, the companies have introduced Robotaxi services in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Riyadh, creating an operational framework that is now being extended into Europe.
These deployments have provided valuable experience in fleet management, customer operations and autonomous driving performance in real-world environments.
The companies believe this experience will help streamline future launches and support faster expansion into additional cities.
Swiss Approval Supports Expansion Plans
WeRide secured a driverless testing permit from Switzerland’s Federal Roads Office in late 2025, allowing autonomous vehicles to operate on public roads in Zurich’s Furttal region.
The company plans to leverage its WeRide One autonomous driving platform and GENESIS simulation technology to support the deployment and ensure operational consistency.
Switzerland’s regulatory framework has increasingly positioned the country as one of Europe’s leading environments for testing and deploying autonomous vehicle technologies.
Part Of A Global Robotaxi Rollout
The Zurich project represents the fifth city where Uber and WeRide will operate Robotaxi services under their broader strategic partnership.
The companies have previously outlined ambitions to deploy tens of thousands of autonomous vehicles globally as part of a long-term effort to scale safe and reliable self-driving transportation.
With Zurich joining the growing list of Robotaxi markets, Uber and WeRide continue to accelerate the commercialization of autonomous mobility, bringing self-driving technology closer to everyday transportation across Europe and beyond.
