WeRide’s Robobus has received Belgium’s first federal test permit for a Level 4 autonomous shuttle.
The permit, signed by minister of mobility, climate and ecological transition Jean-Luc Crucke, allows WeRide’s Robobus to undergo testing on public roads along the 8km Leuven–Heverlee loop, with nine stops. The service will be run in partnership with Flemish public transportation operator De Lijn, the City of Leuven and mobility consultancy Espaces-Mobilités.
The test permit was issued following a detailed route safety analysis by the Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport. Pending approval from the Flemish authorities, the Robobus will begin public road testing in the coming weeks, with a safety officer on board during the initial phase. This follows WeRide’s announcement that the Robobus had arrived in Leuven and entered field preparations.
Once testing is complete, De Lijn will operate a pilot autonomous shuttle service along the same 8km route from mid-November through January 2026. This will mark Belgium’s first commercial deployment of autonomous vehicles (AVs) in mixed traffic, with passengers boarding via digital ticket, SMS or subscription. The shuttles are then expected to enter regular service.
“As an AV company, our goal is always to achieve safe Level 4 fully driverless operations. This test permit is an important step on that journey, allowing us to demonstrate our technology in real-world conditions on public roads while setting a strong precedent for future autonomous vehicle testing across Europe. We thank the Belgian authorities for trusting our technology and supporting safer, smarter and more sustainable transportation,” said Jennifer Li, CFO and head of international at WeRide.
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