WeRide has announced it has been selected as the technology provider for a new autonomous driving pilot project in Switzerland. This project is funded by the Canton of Zurich and Swiss national railway Schweizerische Bundesbahnen (SBB) and managed by the Swiss Transit Lab (STL).
During the test phase, two autonomous cars equipped with WeRide technology will be in service. Once the operation begins, up to four cars will be deployed. This fleet of autonomous vehicles is expected to begin operations in the second quarter of 2025 and will operate in a fully unmanned mode for up to five years. By 2026, the fleet is expected to expand with eight additional AVs, with further expansion planned.
The first automated vehicles will be deployed in the Furttal Region in Switzerland. Pilot operations will begin in Otelfingen, Boppelsen, Hüttikon, and Dänikon, with plans to extend the test area to Buchs, Dällikon, and Regensdorf. Residents of these areas will be able to book the autonomous vehicles by an app supplied by ioki, a well-established provider of mobility solutions in Europe.
WeRide founder and CEO Tony Han said, “The launch of the Swiss public transportation service pilot project demonstrates WeRide’s commitment to expanding autonomous driving solutions in Europe. From large sports events to airport operations to public transportation services, our solutions have proven their excellent adaptability in various scenarios.”
In Switzerland, trains serve as the main links connecting major cities and towns. According to the Federal Office of Transport (FOT), Swiss residents take the train about 70 times a year on average, the highest in Europe. However, suburban areas face limited transportation options.
Switzerland’s state-owned railway company, SBB, is one of the project investors. The Canton of Zurich, Switzerland’s most populous canton, is the second-largest investor. STL, the project manager, is dedicated to exploring and promoting mobility solutions to address urbanization challenges.
This cooperation project in Switzerland is WeRide’s third project in Europe within eight months. WeRide announced the launch of Europe’s first commercial autonomous minibus project at Zurich Airport this month, and during the 2024 French Open, WeRide partnered with Renault to provide the only L4 autonomous shuttle service at the Paris event.
Read more about Ioki’s role in this project here.