Spain authorizes first Level 4 robotaxi trials in Madrid for Uber and WeRide

Regulatory clearance in Spain

Spain's Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) granted its first national Level 4 autonomous vehicle authorization to a consortium formed by Uber Technologies, Chinese autonomous driving firm WeRide, and fleet operator Avomo. The authorization, issued under the state ES-AV regulatory framework in collaboration with the Community of Madrid, permits the companies to begin field testing and operational validation on public roads. The initial phase focuses on high-definition mapping, route verification, and technical calibration across high-demand urban corridors.

The Level 4 classification denotes high automation, allowing vehicles to operate without human driver intervention within designated geographical areas and defined operational parameters. While the system is designed to navigate traffic and handle roadside scenarios independently, all initial test runs will carry a specialized safety driver on board to monitor driving maneuvers. The companies intend to transition from preliminary road validation to paid commercial passenger services before the end of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.

Uber global head of autonomous mobility and delivery Sarfraz Maredia described the regional operating environment in a company statement:

The Community of Madrid is rapidly consolidating itself as one of the most advanced environments in Europe for the development of this technology, and we are delighted to continue working alongside our partners to help make that vision a reality.

Fleet specifications and operating roles

The Madrid pilot program utilizes a fleet of 20 WeRide GXR vehicles, built on the electric Geely YuanCheng Super Van platform. The permit represents the first national Level 4 approval for the WeRide GXR model within the European Union, establishing a regulatory benchmark for future vehicle certification across European markets. WeRide already operates autonomous passenger services with this platform in Guangzhou, Beijing, and Abu Dhabi.

Project operations rely on a tripartite division of responsibilities among the coalition partners. WeRide supplies the proprietary autonomous driving software, sensor packages, and GXR vehicles. Uber provides passenger dispatch and ride aggregation by integrating the robotaxi service directly into its existing mobile application. Avomo, the autonomous fleet division of Grupo Moove Cars, oversees vehicle custody, fleet logistics, and depot maintenance, applying operational procedures developed in United States trial markets such as Austin and Atlanta.

Regional mobility integration

Regional authorities announced local backing for the autonomous trials during the annual State of the Region debate on 9 September 2026. President of the Community of Madrid Isabel Díaz Ayuso outlined plans for a two-year experimental pilot spanning Madrid capital and the northern municipality of Alcobendas. The regional framework brings together public administrations, private software developers, fleet managers, private-hire vehicle (VTC) operators, and traditional taxi representatives to evaluate road safety performance.

The passenger car pilot complements broader regional automation projects currently underway across Madrid's transit infrastructure. These initiatives include an operational autonomous bus service in Leganés as well as an ongoing technological overhaul of Madrid Metro Line 6. Line 6, known as the Circular line, is scheduled to become the network's first fully automated metro line in 2027.

Global expansion roadmap

Madrid becomes the fourth urban center incorporated into the international partnership between Uber and WeRide, which aims to deploy tens of thousands of autonomous vehicles across 15 cities by 2030. The Spanish capital joins a growing cohort of European cities hosting autonomous passenger trials, including Waymo operations in London and Munich, Pony.ai trials with Verne in Zagreb, and Moia electric shuttle operations in Hamburg.

Uber's operational model focuses on platform aggregation rather than in-house hardware manufacturing, partnering internationally with technology developers including Waymo, Wayve, Zoox, and Nuro alongside WeRide. Following route validation and data collection across Madrid's designated testing corridors, the coalition plans to request final commercial clearance to begin taking paying passengers through the Uber app.