The United Arab Emirates has given Chinese autonomous driving company WeRide the first national license for self-driving vehicles. The permit allows WeRide to test its Level 4 autonomous vehicles on public roads throughout the country.
Level 4 is a designation by SAE that means the vehicle can handle all aspects of driving in certain conditions without human intervention.
The license is a step towards UAE ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s vision of making 25% of the country’s transportation fully autonomous by 2030.
UAE’s Council of Ministers approved WeRide’s permit alongside a national policy for electric vehicles on Monday. That policy includes building out a national charging network, regulating the EV market and stimulating related industries like AVs that could reduce emissions and preserve the quality of roa …
