Autonomous driving technology firm WeRide has received Level-4 driverless public road testing and operating permit in France.
This permit, secured in partnership with French autonomous mobility network operator beti, makes WeRide the “only technology company” with driverless permits in five countries including China, the UAE, Singapore, France, and the US.
The new permit allows WeRide’s autonomous minibus to operate at speeds up to 40km/h, which is claimed to be the highest-speed driverless permit issued in the country.
Governed by the 2019 PACTE law, the permit acquisition process in France involves approval from multiple government agencies coordinated by the Directorate General for Energy and Climate (DGEC).
“The process involves thorough evaluations of technical documents, safety protocols, and operational plans. WeRide and beti completed this rigorous process in three months—setting a record for France’s fastest driverless permit approval,” WeRide said in a statement.
Last month, WeRide, beti, Renault Group, and Macif launched what it claims to be Europe’s first public-road commercial autonomous minibus service in Valence, Drôme, France.
The partners aim to introduce a fully driverless commercial operation by July 2025, featuring one-to-multiple remote hypervision.
The company has a presence in 30 cities across 10 countries, deploying its fleet of autonomous vehicles, including robotaxi, robobus, and robosweeper, in France, Spain, Switzerland, Singapore, the UAE, Japan, and more.
Recently, Renault Group and WeRide trialled their autonomous Robobus in Spain, offering a free service in the centre of Barcelona.
This marked the first test in Spain of the companies’ Level-4 autonomous vehicle for public transport, following successful trials during the Roland-Garros 2024 tennis tournament.
