WeRide deploys autonomous shuttle at Zurich Airport

WeRide Inc. today said it has deployed its Robobus autonomous shuttle service at the Zurich Airport in partnership with Flughafen Zürich AG and Swiss Transit Lab. The Chinese developer of autonomous driving technology said it marks a significant milestone in bringing autonomous mobility systems to a major European aviation hub.

“WeRide possesses a fully developed and thoroughly tested technology, meets all of the legal and safety requirements in place at Zurich Airport, and guarantees that it will meet the data protection requirements set out,” stated Flughafen Zürich.

The deployment builds on WeRide’s successful European operations, including its recent autonomous shuttle service at Roland-Garros during the 2024 French Open.

Established in 2017, WeRide provides autonomous driving systems ranging from SAE Level 2 to Level 4. The company has conducted research and development, testing, and operations across 30 cities in seven countries. In October, it was officially listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “WRD.”

WeRide prepares to tackle Zurich Airport challenges

At the foot of the Alps, the Zurich Airport presents significant challenges to autonomous driving because of complex operational environments and climatic conditions. WeRide said it successfully overcame these problems with its strong technical capabilities and implementation experience, providing a mature and reliable solution.

The company said the commercial deployment of its autonomous Robobus, which accommodates nine passengers, will be its first such project at a European airport. The initial phase at Zurich Airport includes a safety driver on board, with plans to transition to remote monitoring operations.

Before the start of test Robobus operations, WeRide’s autonomous Robotaxi completed route mapping at Zurich Airport. This also demonstrated that Robotaxi will have more applications in Switzerland.

Flughafen Zürich is working with airports in Brussels and Amsterdam that are also testing autonomous vehicle (AV) technologies. In addition, WeRide plans to work with the Swiss Transit Lab to ensure the smooth operation.

WeRide will serve Zurich Airport employees along a dedicated route connecting the employee entrance at Gate 101 to the maintenance area at Gate 130. The company said service will begin in the first quarter of 2025.

Self-driving services enter busy airports

Airports provide a unique setting for autonomous vehicles. On the one hand, they are more controlled environments than open roads. This means developers can create detailed maps of the areas where the AVs will operate and intensively train them within every inch of those environments. On the other hand, as anyone who has driven to one knows, airport driving is hectic and full of unpredictable drivers. 

Beep, an Orlando, Fla.-based developer that plans, deploys, and manages autonomous shuttles for private and public communities, launched autonomous shuttles at the Honolulu airport in May 2024. The company is working with the Hawai’i Department of Transportation and Sustainability Partners to launch an 18-month self-driving shuttle pilot at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. 

In addition, Waymo, a leader in the robotaxi space and the self-driving unit of Alphabet, operates a curbside service at the Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Ariz. The service is open to employees 24/7 and has limited hours for the public.

Unlike Beep and WeRide, Waymo isn’t just shuttling people to and from areas within the airport. Instead, the company picks up riders from around the city or from the airport itself, and delivers them to their destinations.

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