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The future of autonomous driving in Europe has just taken a massive leap forward. In a landmark announcement, autonomous driving technology leader WeRide, ride-hailing giant Uber, and fleet operations specialist AVOMO have been granted Spain’s very first national operating permit for Level 4 autonomous passenger vehicles.

Authorized by Spain’s Directorate General of Traffic (DGT), this milestone opens the doors for autonomous mobility in the European Union, positioning the Community of Madrid as the pioneering testing ground for next-generation urban transport.

Here is everything you need to know about this groundbreaking partnership and what it means for the future of mobility in Europe.

Madrid – The Launchpad for Autonomous Mobility in Spain

As one of Europe’s largest and most dynamic urban mobility markets, Madrid presents the perfect landscape for testing and scaling autonomous ride-hailing services. The region boasts a highly mature ride-hailing ecosystem and massive daily commuting demand, providing an ideal foundation for autonomous public road operations.

With this permit, the triad of companies can officially begin deployment preparation activities in the Greater Madrid region. This includes essential foundational work like road mapping, route validation, and operational readiness testing for WeRide’s GXR autonomous vehicles.

WeRide x Uber x AVOMO

The deployment showcases an impressive “asset-light” operational model that relies on the unique strengths of each partner:

• WeRide brings its world-class, globally proven autonomous driving technology (the GXR vehicle).
• Uber provides its established, massively scalable mobility network and user platform.
• AVOMO (the autonomous vehicle division of the Moove Cars Group) offers its critical fleet operations and maintenance expertise, already proven in cities like Austin and Atlanta.

This venture marks the fourth city launch out of a planned 15 under the WeRide-Uber strategic global partnership. By 2030, the two companies aim to deploy tens of thousands of autonomous vehicles across the globe.

Timelines and Fleet Details

Residents and visitors in Madrid will soon spot these vehicles on the roads. During the initial rollout phase, a fleet of 20 vehicles equipped with WeRide’s latest tech will be deployed across high-demand areas in Greater Madrid. To ensure absolute safety and smooth integration, these initial vehicles will operate under the supervision of in-car vehicle specialists.

The timeline is ambitious yet highly calculated. Following mapping and testing, the partners expect to achieve all necessary operational and regulatory milestones to begin full commercial operations by the end of 2026.

A Benchmark for the EU

Beyond Spain, this development is a critical moment for the broader European market. This is WeRide’s first national approval for its GXR autonomous vehicle within the EU—and its ninth permit globally. By successfully navigating Spain’s DGT ES-AV framework, WeRide, Uber, and AVOMO are establishing a vital regulatory and operational benchmark that will likely pave the way for future vehicle certifications and commercialization across the entire European region.

As Jennifer Li, CFO and Head of International at WeRide, noted: “The Madrid region is a key gateway for our European expansion… we are one step closer to bringing autonomous mobility to Spain before the end of 2026.”

For Europe, the gears are officially in motion. As we edge closer to the end of 2026, all eyes will be on Madrid to see how autonomous ride-hailing transforms the urban commuting experience.

Stay tuned to Polding.eu for the latest updates on autonomous mobility, tech regulations, and the future of transportation across Europe.