WeRide and Renault Group have been operating a free autonomous Robobus trial service in the center of Barcelona this week (10-14 March), to prove the maturity and potential of automated transport technologies for the first time in a dense and complex urban environment. The demo involved two autonomous electric minibuses running on a 2.2km open road loop in live traffic with four stops.
“This Barcelona trial represents a pivotal moment in WeRide’s international expansion strategy, demonstrating our technology leadership beyond Asian markets and into the heart of Europe,” said Tony Han, founder & CEO at WeRide. “By bringing our Level-4 autonomous Robobus to navigate Barcelona’s complex urban environment in real traffic conditions, we’re showcasing not just the maturity of our technology, but its adaptability to diverse global settings. This collaboration with Renault Group underscores our shared vision for making smart, sustainable mobility solutions accessible worldwide.”
The demo was WeRide and Renault Group’s first test in Spain of their Level-4 autonomous vehicle for public transport. The initiative continues the experimentation carried out by the partners during the Roland-Garros 2024 tennis tournament in May 2024, when Renault Group and WeRide operated two autonomous miniBuses in open traffic, clocking up 1,000km and nearly 700 passengers.
Last month, WeRide also announced the first European fully driverless commercial deployment of its Robobus as part of a shuttle service partnership with beti, Renault Group, and Macif that will feature an L4-level automated mobility service in France’s Dôme region. In January, WeRide announced its first commercial autonomous shuttle project in Europe at Zurich Airport, and was also chosen as the technology supplier for a pilot project on autonomous driving by Swiss national railway Schweizerische Bundesbahnen (SBB).
Renault Group says it continues to work toward offering a robotised electric miniBus platform by 2030, capable of integrating automation solutions from specialized partners. You can read an exclusive interview with Renault Group’s Patrick Vergelas, head of autonomous driving projects, here.