On June 10th, WeRide Inc. (NASDAQ: WRD, HKEX: 00800), a global leader in autonomous driving technology, held a meeting in Bratislava with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. The discussions centered on the deployment of autonomous driving technology and the development of intelligent transportation systems. The meeting was also attended by Slovak Minister of Transport Jozef Ráž and Ľubomír Slovák, Director of the Department of Strategy and Planning at the Ministry of Transport.
The meeting was facilitated by DiusAI, a local partner of the Slovak national multi-stakeholder initiative ELEVATE Slovakia. During the talks, the WeRide delegation presented a comprehensive overview of the company's global footprint and its autonomous driving capabilities, with a specific focus on its multi-product commercialization plans for Slovakia. The arrival of WeRide's first autonomous vehicles in Slovakia this month marks the beginning of the substantive deployment and testing phase in the country.
Prime Minister Robert Fico expressed strong support for WeRide's technological expertise, affirming that the Slovak government will fully back the smooth implementation of the autonomous driving project to jointly advance the nation's transportation and technology sectors. On the same day, Chinese Ambassador to Slovakia Cai Ge also met with representatives from WeRide and Dius AI, extending a welcome and support for WeRide's collaboration in Slovakia's smart transportation field.
Strategic Deployment in Slovakia
According to the company's plan, WeRide will deploy its full suite of Level 4 autonomous driving products in Slovakia. This portfolio includes Robotaxi, Robobus, Robovan, and Robosweeper, targeting diverse application scenarios such as smart mobility, public transport, logistics, and municipal services. The initiative aims to explore the multifaceted integration of autonomous technology into urban systems.
Initial testing will commence in Bratislava before expanding to Košice and the High Tatras region. Certain autonomous vehicle models are scheduled to begin public commercial operations within 2026, progressing towards fully driverless commercial services upon meeting all Slovak and European Union legislative and safety standards.
Expanding European Footprint
The Slovakia project represents another significant milestone in WeRide's European expansion. The company is currently advancing autonomous driving projects across five European nations: France, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, and Slovakia, covering a variety of use cases.
In Spain, WeRide has partnered with Uber to launch the country's first Robotaxi service, set to go live later this year. In France, WeRide's autonomous shuttles have provided services at the French Open for three consecutive years, and a fully driverless Robobus has commenced commercial operations in the Drôme department. In Switzerland, WeRide secured the first fully driverless Robotaxi license, and its autonomous shuttles are operational at Zurich Airport with approval to remove the front-seat safety attendant. In Belgium, the company's autonomous shuttles have initiated regular commercial services in Leuven.
As the Slovakia project progresses, WeRide aims to deepen its multi-product, multi-scenario, and multi-city commercial strategy across the European market. This expansion is expected to provide scalable, replicable models for the broader adoption of autonomous driving technology throughout Europe and globally.
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