Madrid will soon see its first self-driving taxis, with the Spanish capital set to get a fleet of ‘robotaxis’ by late 2026.
This comes with the launch of a pilot scheme, the first in Spain, by Uber and WeRide, in collaboration with the Madrid regional government.
Initially, the vehicles will operate in controlled areas along pre-defined routes. There is no official map yet but Spanish media reports suggest it will be finalised for the pilot launch.
Similarly, the robotaxis will initially have a safety operator on board, responsible for monitoring the system and intervening if necessary.
The first trials with passengers on board are scheduled for sometime between summer and autumn, whilst the full service is set to launch in December. Exact dates for now remain unconfirmed.
The robotaxi service will be available to book via the Uber app, and its roll-out will take place gradually following the trial period. Spain’s DGT has already authorised the companies to carry out the first tests, in which 44 autonomous vehicles will take part.
As part of their plans, Uber and WeRide expect to add “hundreds of Robotaxis as key performance milestones are met, including the expansion of fully driverless commercial service across core urban areas,” according to a joint statement.
Dr. Tony Han, founder and CEO of WeRide, said: “Launching driverless Robotaxis in Madrid, one of Europe’s fastest-growing urban environments, demonstrates our ability to operate safely in complex real-world conditions.
“Spain is our fifth European market entry and further strengthens our position as a trusted Robotaxi operator across the continent. Together with Uber, we’re combining our autonomous driving technology with their mobility platform to accelerate commercialisation at scale,” he said.
Sarfraz Maredia, global head of autonomous mobility at Uber, added: “Madrid represents an important next step in our partnership with WeRide to bring autonomous mobility to more people around the world… With a clear regulatory path and strong local partners, Madrid is a natural place to become a leading European market for AVs.”
