WeRide Makes First European Fully Driverless Commercial Robobus Deployment in France with Beti, Renault, Macif
WeRide (Nasdaq: WRD) has announced its first European fully driverless commercial Robobus deployment in France's Dr么me region, partnering with beti, Renault Group, and Macif. The service will launch on March 10, 2025, at the Rovaltain business park 鈥� Valence TGV station.
The L4-level autonomous service will operate several six-meter-long robobuses, each carrying eight passengers, on a 3.3 km route connecting the train station, long-term parking, catering hub, and 150 companies employing 3,000 people. The buses will operate at speeds up to 40km/h with dynamic obstacle avoidance capabilities.
The deployment includes an initial learning phase from March 10 to April 19, operating Monday to Friday, followed by a second operating phase starting in July. Beti Automated Mobility will manage operations using their 'hypervision' solution for enhanced safety and continuous system improvement.
WeRide (Nasdaq: WRD) ha annunciato il suo primo dispiegamento commerciale completamente autonomo di Robobus in Europa, nella regione della Dr么me in Francia, in collaborazione con beti, Renault Group e Macif. Il servizio sar脿 attivato il 10 marzo 2025, nel parco commerciale Rovaltain 鈥� stazione TGV di Valence.
Il servizio autonomo di livello L4 operer脿 diversi robobus lunghi sei metri, ciascuno in grado di trasportare otto passeggeri, su un percorso di 3,3 km che collega la stazione ferroviaria, il parcheggio a lungo termine, il centro di ristorazione e 150 aziende che impiegano 3.000 persone. I bus viaggeranno a velocit脿 di fino a 40 km/h con capacit脿 di evitamento dinamico degli ostacoli.
Il dispiegamento prevede una fase iniziale di apprendimento dal 10 marzo al 19 aprile, operando dal luned矛 al venerd矛, seguita da una seconda fase operativa che inizier脿 a luglio. Beti Automated Mobility gestir脿 le operazioni utilizzando la loro soluzione 'hypervision' per una maggiore sicurezza e un continuo miglioramento del sistema.
WeRide (Nasdaq: WRD) ha anunciado su primer despliegue comercial de Robobus completamente aut贸nomo en Europa, en la regi贸n de Dr么me, Francia, en colaboraci贸n con beti, Renault Group y Macif. El servicio se lanzar谩 el 10 de marzo de 2025, en el parque empresarial Rovaltain 鈥� estaci贸n TGV de Valence.
El servicio aut贸nomo de nivel L4 operar谩 varios robobuses de seis metros de largo, cada uno con capacidad para ocho pasajeros, en una ruta de 3,3 km que conecta la estaci贸n de tren, el aparcamiento a largo plazo, el centro de restauraci贸n y 150 empresas que emplean a 3.000 personas. Los autobuses funcionar谩n a velocidades de hasta 40 km/h con capacidades de evitaci贸n din谩mica de obst谩culos.
El despliegue incluye una fase inicial de aprendizaje del 10 de marzo al 19 de abril, operando de lunes a viernes, seguida de una segunda fase operativa que comenzar谩 en julio. Beti Automated Mobility gestionar谩 las operaciones utilizando su soluci贸n de 'hipervisi贸n' para una mayor seguridad y mejora continua del sistema.
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WeRide (Nasdaq: WRD) a annonc茅 son premier d茅ploiement commercial de Robobus enti猫rement autonome en Europe, dans la r茅gion de Dr么me en France, en partenariat avec beti, le groupe Renault et Macif. Le service sera lanc茅 le 10 mars 2025, au parc d'affaires Rovaltain 鈥� gare TGV de Valence.
Le service autonome de niveau L4 fera circuler plusieurs robobus de six m猫tres de long, chacun transportant huit passagers, sur un parcours de 3,3 km reliant la gare, le parking de longue dur茅e, le p么le de restauration et 150 entreprises employant 3 000 personnes. Les bus circuleront 脿 des vitesses allant jusqu'脿 40 km/h avec des capacit茅s d'茅vitement dynamique des obstacles.
Le d茅ploiement comprend une phase d'apprentissage initiale du 10 mars au 19 avril, op茅rant du lundi au vendredi, suivie d'une seconde phase op茅rationnelle commen莽ant en juillet. Beti Automated Mobility g茅rera les op茅rations en utilisant leur solution 'hypervision' pour une s茅curit茅 accrue et une am茅lioration continue du syst猫me.
WeRide (Nasdaq: WRD) hat seinen ersten vollst盲ndig fahrerlosen kommerziellen Robobus-Einsatz in Europa in der franz枚sischen Region Dr么me angek眉ndigt, in Partnerschaft mit beti, Renault Group und Macif. Der Service wird am 10. M盲rz 2025 im Gesch盲ftspark Rovaltain 鈥� Valence TGV-Bahnhof starten.
Der L4-autonome Service wird mehrere sechs Meter lange Robobusse betreiben, die jeweils acht Passagiere bef枚rdern, auf einer 3,3 km langen Strecke, die den Bahnhof, den Langzeitparkplatz, das Gastronomiezentrum und 150 Unternehmen mit 3.000 Besch盲ftigten verbindet. Die Busse werden mit Geschwindigkeiten von bis zu 40 km/h fahren und 眉ber dynamische Hindernisvermeidung verf眉gen.
Der Einsatz umfasst eine erste Lernphase vom 10. M盲rz bis 19. April, die von Montag bis Freitag betrieben wird, gefolgt von einer zweiten Betriebsphase, die im Juli beginnt. Beti Automated Mobility wird die Operationen mit ihrer 'Hypervision'-L枚sung f眉r erh枚hte Sicherheit und kontinuierliche Systemverbesserung verwalten.
- First commercial L4 autonomous bus deployment in Europe
- Strategic expansion into European market
- Partnership with established companies (Renault, Macif)
- Service addresses clear market need serving 3,000 employees across 150 companies
- Initial deployment to learning phase with restricted schedule
- Small-scale operation with passenger capacity (8 per bus)
- Restricted to short 3.3km route
Insights
WeRide's first fully driverless commercial Robobus deployment in Europe represents a significant expansion of their autonomous driving commercialization strategy beyond Asian and Middle Eastern markets. This L4 autonomous implementation in France's Dr么me region demonstrates the company's capability to adapt its technology to different regulatory environments and transportation ecosystems.
The partnership with beti, Renault Group, and Macif is strategically valuable as it provides WeRide entry into the European market with established local operators. The 3.3km route connecting a railway station to a business park addresses specific mobility needs with multiple compelling use cases, targeting the challenging last-mile transportation problem.
What's technically impressive is the 40km/h operational speed in mixed traffic conditions with dynamic obstacle avoidance - performance metrics that exceed many competitors' autonomous shuttle capabilities. The phased deployment approach (March learning phase followed by July operational phase) indicates a measured commercialization strategy focusing on safety validation before scaling.
For WeRide investors, this European deployment represents execution of their global expansion strategy and validates their technology's transferability across markets. The commercial nature of this deployment signals transition from pilot programs to revenue-generating operations, a critical milestone for autonomous driving companies seeking to demonstrate viable business models beyond R&D.
This deployment represents one of the first genuine commercial applications of L4 autonomous technology in Europe's public transportation sector. The multi-phase approach (starting with a learning phase through April before expanding in July) demonstrates a pragmatic commercialization strategy that balances technological ambition with operational realism.
The partnership structure is particularly noteworthy. WeRide provides the autonomous technology while beti Automated Mobility operates the service and implements their "hypervision" safety layer. This creates a dual-redundancy safety architecture that addresses one of the primary concerns in autonomous transportation deployment. Renault's involvement brings automotive manufacturing expertise and local market knowledge essential for European expansion.
The use case selection shows strategic targeting of the transportation gap between fixed infrastructure (train station) and final destinations (business park) - precisely where traditional public transit often fails. This 3.3km route serving 150 companies with 3,000 employees represents an ideal autonomous deployment scenario: contained environment, predictable demand patterns, and clear value proposition reducing private vehicle usage.
From a competitive landscape perspective, WeRide's ability to secure this commercial deployment positions them ahead of many autonomous mobility competitors still stuck in perpetual pilot phases. The progression from technology demonstration to commercial operation is the hurdle many autonomous vehicle companies fail to clear, making this a particularly valuable proof point for WeRide's business model.
VALENCE, France, Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WeRide (Nasdaq: WRD), a global leader in autonomous driving technology, today 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鈥檚 Dr么me region.
WeRide will provide its L4-level autonomous technology for a passenger transport service on open roads in mixed traffic, with several six-meter-long robobuses, each able to carry eight passengers, operated by beti Automated Mobility. Beti Automated Mobility will begin operations on March 10, at the Rovaltain business park 鈥� Valence TGV station in Dr么me.
"Our collaboration with beti allows us to execute our inaugural commercial Robobus deployment in Europe, utilizing our proven track record in the Chinese, Singaporean, and Middle Eastern markets, and ultimately reinforcing our position as a global leader in L4 autonomous driving deployment and commercialization." said Jennifer Li, CFO and Head of International Business at WeRide.
Benjamin Beaudet, CEO of beti, explained that beti鈥檚 鈥渉ypervision鈥� solution provides a second layer of safety for automated driving and ensures continuous improvement of the system.
The route is 3.3 km long and serves the train station, off-site long-term parking, the business park's catering hub, and 150 companies employing 3,000 people.
Key use cases include:
- Providing flexible mobility between the station and companies while promoting sustainable last-mile transport.
- Creating a low-carbon alternative to walking between parking and the station.
- Connecting companies to the catering hub for employees.
This deployment is groundbreaking because:
- This is WeRide's first fully driverless commercial Robobus deployment in Europe, showcasing its global expansion.
- It's the first high-level automated service connecting a railway station to a business park.
- WeRide's L4 automation enables 40km/h speeds and dynamic obstacle avoidance.
鈥淔ollowing successful trials conducted by Renault Group and WeRide, the beginnings of a passenger transport service using automated shuttles are now
being set up in Valence.鈥� said Patrick Vergelas, Head of Autonomous Mobility Projects, Renault Group.
The initial learning phase will run from March 10 to April 19, operating Monday to Friday under real passenger transport conditions. It will demonstrate the relevance of the service, the safety of the technology and the efficiency of the operations. A second target operating phase will start in July.
颁辞苍迟补肠迟听
Edmond Lococo
ICR, LLC聽
+1 (332) 242-4398
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
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