WeRide Gains Driverless Testing Permit in California

WeRide, a Chinese startup specializing in autonomous vehicle technology and recently securing $310 million in funding, has been granted permission to test driverless vehicles on public roads in San Jose, California.

This approval positions WeRide as the seventh company to achieve this milestone, joining AutoX, Baidu, Cruise, Nuro, Waymo, and Zoox in possessing a driverless testing permit within the state.

Evolution of Autonomous Vehicle Testing

Initially, autonomous vehicle testing necessitated the presence of human safety drivers. Currently, 56 companies hold active permits for testing autonomous vehicles with a safety driver present.

However, driverless testing permits – those allowing operation without a human operator – now represent a significant advancement and a crucial prerequisite for companies aiming to commercially deploy robotaxi or delivery services in California.

Details of WeRide’s Permit

According to the California DMV, the regulatory body overseeing autonomous vehicle testing, WeRide’s permit authorizes the testing of two autonomous vehicles without a human driver on designated streets within San Jose.

WeRide previously obtained a permit in 2017 to test vehicles with safety drivers. The new permit includes operational restrictions.

Specifically, the driverless vehicles are limited to roads with speed limits of 45 miles per hour or less. Testing is confined to daytime hours, Monday through Friday, and is prohibited during conditions of heavy fog or rainfall, as stipulated by the DMV.

Requirements for Driverless Testing

Achieving driverless testing status in California demands adherence to stringent safety, registration, and insurance criteria.

Applicants must demonstrate proof of insurance or a surety bond valued at $5 million.

Furthermore, vehicles must be verified as capable of operating autonomously, comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (or possess an exemption from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), and be classified as SAE Level 4 or 5.

Continuous monitoring of test vehicles and comprehensive training for remote operators are also mandatory.

Reporting and Oversight

Permit holders are obligated to report any collisions involving a driverless test vehicle to the DMV within 10 days.

An annual report detailing disengagements – instances where the autonomous system relinquishes control to a human – must also be submitted.

WeRide’s Global Presence

While WeRide’s primary operations are based in China, this permit underscores its ongoing commitment to the United States market.

Headquartered in Guangzhou, China, the company maintains research and development, as well as operational centers, in multiple Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Wuhan, Zhengzhou, and Anqing, alongside its Silicon Valley location.

In February, WeRide secured a permit to operate a ride-hailing service in Guangzhou, demonstrating its progress in commercial deployment.

Investment and Backing

WeRide stands as one of China’s most heavily funded autonomous vehicle technology companies.

Its investors include prominent entities such as bus manufacturer Yutong, facial recognition specialist SenseTime, and Alliance Ventures – the venture capital arm of Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi.

Additional investors are CMC Capital Partners, CDB Equipment Manufacturing Fund, Hengjian Emerging Industries Fund, Zhuhai Huajin Capital, Flower City Ventures, Tryin Capital, Qiming Venture Partners, Sinovation Ventures, and Kinzon Capital.