WeRide Expands European Presence with Autonomous Robobus Shuttle Deployment at Zurich Airport

Zurich, Jan. 09 – WeRide Inc. (NASDAQ: WRD), a global leader in autonomous driving technology, today announced the the collaboration with Flughafen Zürich AG in a pilot project that aims to deploy its Robobus autonomous shuttle service at the airfield of Zurich Airport. This marks a significant milestone in bringing autonomous mobility solutions to one of Europe's major aviation hubs and builds upon WeRide's successful European operations, including its recent autonomous shuttle service at Roland-Garros during the 2024 French Open. (WeRide will deploy its Robobus autonomous shuttle service at Zurich Airport)

The WeRide Robobus, which can accommodate up to nine passengers, will be one of the first commercial autonomous bus shuttle projects within an airport in Europe. It will serve airport employees along a dedicated route inside the airport perimeter, connecting the employee entrance at gate 101 to the work places at gate 130. The route is clearly separate from flight operations, and does not cross any airplane taxiways, making it an ideal place to use autonomous vehicles for the first time, while making it easier for employees to commute within the airport grounds. Tests will begin operations in the first quarter of 2025, complementing existing airside shuttle services for airport staff. (The operating route of WeRide's Robobus autonomous shuttle service at Zurich Airport passes through multiple stops in the non-taxiing area.)

With the aim of developing similar pioneering mobility solutions, Flughafen Zürich AG is working closely with other airports – such as Brussels and Amsterdam – that are also testing technologies for autonomous vehicles. Before the start of pilot Robobus operations, WeRide’s autonomous Robotaxi completed route mapping at Zurich Airport. (WeRide's autonomous taxi, Robotaxi, conducted route mapping at Zurich Airport in December 2024)

Zurich Airport is located at the foot of the Alps, presenting severe challenges to autonomous driving technology due to its complex operational environment and climatic conditions: the airport's aviation-grade safety requirements are extremely high, with strict regulations on the safety and standards of internal operational vehicle systems. The operational route passes through areas with narrow roads, high pedestrian traffic, and a large number of randomly parked vehicles. The airport has special vehicles such as tow trucks, mobile boarding bridge vehicles, luggage transport vehicles, and large snow removal vehicles interacting on the roads. The airport also features high-intensity special electromagnetic signal environment, and the need to cope with alternating weather conditions from sunny, to rainy, or snowy within the same day, as well as extreme weather including strong winds and low temperatures. WeRide aim to overcome all of these extreme challenges with its strong technical capabilities and rich implementation experience, providing Zurich Airport with a mature and reliable autonomous driving solution. (WeRide will deploy its Robobus autonomous shuttle service at Zurich Airport)

The Zurich Airport service follows the successful deployment in Paris, where Robobus provided efficient shuttle services for VIPs and media across a five-kilometer route during the French Open, as part of an ongoing collaboration with Renault Group to promote low-carbon public transportation solutions across Europe. (The interior of WeRide’s Robobus)

The Robobus deployment leverages WeRide's advanced autonomous driving technology, which has undergone extensive testing and validation across more than 30 cities in seven countries. The initial phase at Zurich Airport will include a safety driver on board, with the option to transition to remote monitoring operations in subsequent phases, all supervised by a dedicated operations center at the airport.

“During a tender, one of the leading companies in the automated mobility sector, WeRide, was selected as the technology provider. WeRide possesses a fully developed and thoroughly tested technology, meets all of the legal and safety requirements in place at Zurich Airport and guarantees that it will meet the data protection requirements set out,” Flughafen Zürich AG said in its announcement of the service.

In December, WeRide’s Robobus inaugurated the commercial operation of the Tianhe BRT autonomous shuttle line in Guangzhou, China, in collaboration with Guangzhou Bus Group, offering a new, efficient, and convenient option for nighttime commuters along a nine-kilometer route. Robobus service was also launched Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore in June, 2024. The shuttle route for hotel guests and tourists, jointly launched by WeRide, Resorts World Sentosa, and EZ Buzz Pte. Ltd, spans 1.2 kilometers with four stops along the way, taking approximately 12 minutes to complete.

Zurich Airport will work with several partners to ensure smooth operation of the service.

About WeRide WeRide is a global leader and a first mover in the autonomous driving industry, as well as the first publicly traded Robotaxi company. Empowered by the smart, versatile, cost-effective and highly adaptable WeRide One platform, WeRide provides autonomous driving products and services from L2 to L4, addressing a vast majority of transportation needs across a wide range of use cases on the open road, including in the mobility, logistics, and sanitation industries. WeRide earned a prestigious position among the top ten on Fortune Magazine’s “2023 Change the World” list and was named to Fortune Magazine’s 2024 “The Future 50” list. For more information, please visit https://www.weride.ai.

Media Contact: PR@WeRide.ai