WeRide launches Robobus commercial operation in Belgium

Gasgoo Munich- WeRide announced on January 26 that its autonomous shuttle, Robobus, has officially entered commercial operation in Leuven, Belgium, marking a significant milestone for the company's overseas expansion.

Image source: WeRide

The autonomous shuttle has been integrated into Line 16 of De Lijn, the local public transport operator, and is now running as part of the city's regular bus network. The deployment represents Europe's first commercial operation of autonomous vehicles in a dense city center with mixed and complex traffic conditions.

According to WeRide, the route connects Leuven's main railway station with the Heverlee district, linking multiple transport hubs and university clusters across the city center. Passengers can purchase digital tickets conveniently via text message or through the De Lijn mobile app, allowing the service to blend seamlessly into everyday public transit use.

The Leuven rollout builds on regulatory progress made in September 2025, when WeRide's autonomous shuttle became the first vehicle in Belgium to receive a federal-level Level 4 autonomous driving testing permit. The project is the result of collaboration between WeRide, De Lijn, mobility consultancy Espaces-Mobilités, and multiple levels of local government, with backing from EIT Urban Mobility. It is designed as a long-term initiative and is expected to continue operating through at least 2027.

Beyond autonomous buses, WeRide is also advancing its Robotaxi and related autonomous mobility services, with overseas markets now a central focus of its growth strategy.

In December 2025, the company partnered with Uber and Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority to launch an autonomous ride-hailing service in Dubai. The initial fleet operated with onboard safety drivers, with WeRide and Uber planning to transition to fully driverless commercial Robotaxi operations in early 2026.

Earlier, in November 2025, WeRide disclosed that its Robotaxi had received a fully driverless operation permit from Switzerland's Federal Roads Office. The license allows unmanned operation on public roads in the Furttal area of Zurich canton and marked the first permit of its kind issued in Switzerland.