WeRide launches pilot Robobus service in Barcelona

Beijing (Gasgoo)- On March 11, autonomous driving technology company WeRide, announced the launch of its autonomous minibus (Robobus) pilot service in downtown Barcelona in partnership with Renault Group.

Photo credit: WeRide

This marks Spain's first publicly accessible pilot operation of a factory-installed, mass-produced autonomous vehicle on open roads, demonstrating WeRide's technological capabilities in handling high-density, complex urban traffic environments.

Authorized by the Barcelona City Council and Spain's Directorate General of Traffic (DGT), the pilot service runs from March 10 to 14, operating daily from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The route covers over two kilometers with four designated stops, passing iconic landmarks such as Casa Batlló and La Pedrera.

WeRide and Renault previously collaborated during the 2024 French Open, where their L4 autonomous minibuses provided the only driverless shuttle service at the event, accumulating over 1,000 kilometers of operational distance and transporting approximately 700 passengers. The Barcelona trial builds on this success, offering the public a firsthand experience of the reliability and safety of autonomous driving solutions in a bustling city center.

As a key strategic investor in WeRide, Renault Group unveiled its autonomous driving roadmap in May 2024, aiming to co-develop localized L4 autonomous minibuses for the European market by 2030. The company estimates that demand for electric autonomous minibuses in Europe will reach several thousand units in the coming years, aligning with the region's push for sustainable public transportation.