China's WeRide supports Swiss autonomous driving pilot project

(ECNS) -- Chinese tech firm WeRide announced on Tuesday that it will support an innovative autonomous driving pilot project in Switzerland.

The initiative, funded by the Canton of Zurich and Swiss national railway operator Schweizerische Bundesbahnen (SBB), will leverage WeRide's cutting-edge products and technical expertise.

Tony Han, founder and CEO of WeRide, stated that the project aims to enhance the local public transport network, improve travel efficiency for residents, and provide valuable insights into developing autonomous driving solutions in Europe.

The plan involves a phased deployment of autonomous vehicles, starting with two Robotaxi and Robobus models for initial testing.

The first batch of vehicles is scheduled to begin operations in the second quarter of 2025, with fully unmanned service expected to continue for five years. The Robotaxi service will initially roll out in Switzerland's Furttal region, where residents can book rides via an app provided by local service provider ioki.

This project marks WeRide's third initiative in Europe in the past eight months. A week ago, the company launched Europe’s first commercial autonomous minibuses at Zurich Airport.