WeRide Wins Autonomous Driving Licenses for Robosweepers in Singapore, Accelerating Overseas Expansion

November 14, 2024 – WeRide (Nasdaq: WRD), the leading global commercial-stage company developing autonomous driving technologies from Level 2 to Level 4, announced that its Robosweeper S6 and Robosweeper S1 have obtained the Milestone Testing Regime Level 1 License for Autonomous Vehicles (AV) on Public Roads (referred to as "M1 License") and the T1 Assessment License for AVs on Public Paths (referred to as "T1 License"), respectively, from the Land Transport Authority of Singapore (LTA). With these licenses, both Robosweepers will be able to conduct pilot operations on permitted public roads and paths in Singapore after passing tests.

(WeRide Robosweeper S6 and Robosweeper S1 conducting pilot operations in Singapore’s Marina Bay)

The T1 and M1 licenses represent comprehensive assessments by the LTA on the technical safety and reliability of autonomous vehicles. As early as December 2023, WeRide’s Robobus obtained both the M1 and T1 licenses in just three months.

(WeRide Robobus at the CETRAN in 2023)

According to the standards by the Centre of Excellence for Testing & Research of Autonomous Vehicles – NTU (CETRAN), the T1 license focuses on public path testing, emphasizing technical reliability and precise response capabilities in complex environments. The T1 license obtained by WeRide Robosweeper S1 highlights its safety and efficiency in operating on public paths.

The M1 license assessment covers multiple dimensions, including basic autonomous driving functions, dynamic and static obstacle recognition and avoidance, and overall vehicle safety performance. During the testing process, the WeRide Robosweeper S6 had to complete tasks such as complex turns, lane keeping, and dynamic environment responses in a highly simulated Singapore urban road environment, showcasing the flexibility and technological advancement of autonomous driving.

(WeRide Robosweeper conducting pilot operations on Singapore streets. Source: The Straits Times)

In June this year, WeRide’s first batch of Robosweepers arrived in Singapore, securing licenses in just over four months. According to reports from prominent Singaporean media such as Lianhe Zaobao and The Straits Times, the LTA recently stated that the risks associated with fixed routes and low-speed operations are relatively low, which will become a priority for the promotion of autonomous driving technology. Additionally, autonomous sanitation vehicles also alleviate labor shortages in the sanitation industry.

Chee Hong Tat, Minister for Transport of Singapore, recently shared at the opening ceremony of the Singapore International Transport Congress and Exhibition (SITCE) 2024 that the LTA is optimizing its evaluation framework of autonomous vehicles to further promote the application of autonomous driving technology in Singapore.

(Chee Hong Tat, Minister for Transport of Singapore, speaking at the SITCE 2024 opening ceremony. Source: SITCE 2024)

Tony Han, Founder and CEO of WeRide, also delivered a keynote speech at the SITCE 2024, sharing the positive role of autonomous driving technology in shaping the future of urban transportation.

(Tony Han, Founder and CEO of WeRide, delivering a keynote speech at the SITCE 2024 opening ceremony. Source: SITCE 2024)

Han stated that WeRide will align with Singapore’s local policies on autonomous sanitation development, deepen collaboration with local partners, and accelerate the commercial deployment of Robosweepers, contributing to Singapore’s vision of a smart and green city.