Uber has selected Madrid as one of the first European cities to deploy autonomous vehicles on its platform, in collaboration with WeRide and the DGT. Tests are already taking place on the streets of the capital with safety drivers on board.
Uber has chosen Madrid as one of the first European cities to incorporate autonomous vehicles into its platform. The project will be carried out alongside the technology provider WeRide, a local operator, and a collaboration framework with the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT). This was confirmed by Anabel Díaz Calderón, Vice President of Mobility for the company in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, during her speech at the Global Trends 2026 conference, organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Spain, as reported by the company and noted by businessinsider.es.
The deployment will be gradual and will begin with safety drivers on board in previously determined areas. The vehicles are already conducting tests on the streets of the capital, although driverless operation will not commence until the objectives set with the regulator are met. Once incorporated into the platform, autonomous trips will become part of Uber's regular offering, and users will be able to decide whether to accept or reject the assigned vehicle.
Díaz Calderón noted that Madrid combines regulatory leadership, cooperation between administrations and industry, and the presence of technological and operational partners that facilitate the transition from testing to deployment under real conditions.
“Electrification and autonomous driving will be two of the major transformations in mobility over the next decade, although we do not foresee an immediate replacement of one type of vehicle for another, but rather that both models will coexist.”
The Uber executive explained that the company is committed to an open model to various autonomous driving providers, rather than relying on a single technology. According to her, platforms that already concentrate demand and manage ride assignments, pricing, and operations can facilitate these developers' access to consumers and help them expand their activities.
Uber also uses artificial intelligence to anticipate demand, calculate estimated arrival and pickup times, connect drivers with passengers, and optimize routes. The latest applications of this technology are aimed at enhancing the driver experience and streamlining operations.
The start of driverless operation in Madrid is pending the achievement of the objectives set with the DGT. Until then, autonomous trips will not be available to users of the platform in the capital.
You may also like
