Chinese autonomous vehicle company WeRide is targeting a fleet of between 7,000 and 10,000 robotaxis in Saudi Arabia by the end of the decade, marking one of the most ambitious autonomous transport deployments in the GCC.
The Nasdaq-listed, Guangzhou-headquartered firm already operates driverless taxis in Riyadh in partnership with Uber and local company Ai Driver, initially serving routes from the airport. By year-end, the Riyadh fleet is set to reach 100 vehicles before scaling exponentially, with expansion planned into the central Olaya district and a separate project launching next year in the giga-project entertainment city of Qiddiya, south of the capital.
Saudi Arabia's national autonomous transport target calls for 15% of public transport vehicles to be self-driving by 2030, with smart roadside communication infrastructure already being installed since August 2024.
Gulf Economist Staff Writer