Chinese Startup WeRide Secures California Permit for Autonomous Vehicle Testing

Chinese Startup WeRide Gains Approval for Autonomous Vehicle Testing in California

WeRide, a Chinese autonomous vehicle startup, has received approval to test its self-driving cars in California. The California Department of Motor Vehicles granted the company a three-year permit, allowing WeRide to operate up to 12 vehicles in and around San Jose.

The permit comes with specific restrictions. WeRide is prohibited from accepting fares or transporting members of the general public. The vehicles are permitted to operate with or without a company driver, but passengers are limited to WeRide personnel only.

This expansion into California adds to WeRide’s growing international presence. The company already holds permits for robotaxi operations in the United Arab Emirates and Singapore, making California its latest testing ground.

WeRide enters a competitive landscape in California, where several robotaxi services are already operational. Google spinoff Waymo, for instance, has been running its autonomous vehicles in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

The introduction of WeRide’s vehicles comes at a time when public and regulatory reception towards robotaxis has been mixed. Recent incidents involving autonomous vehicles have raised safety concerns among residents and officials alike.

A notable case is that of General Motors’ Cruise, which was forced to remove its fleet from San Francisco streets following an incident involving a pedestrian. Cruise is now reintroducing its robotaxis in Phoenix, but with human drivers on board as a precautionary measure.

Adding to the industry’s challenges, federal officials are currently investigating 22 crashes involving Waymo robotaxis. These investigations have uncovered violations of traffic safety laws and concerning driving behaviors, including an incident where a Waymo vehicle struck a dog in San Francisco.

Public sentiment in California has grown increasingly wary, with some locals calling for a ban on robotaxis. Safety and reliability remain at the forefront of these concerns.

As WeRide begins its operations in California, it faces significant hurdles. The history of robotaxi services in the state suggests a challenging path ahead for new entrants in this space.