ANTWERP, Belgium, Sept. 19, 2025 — WeRide (Nasdaq: WRD), a global frontrunner in autonomous driving technology, announced today that its Robobus has secured Belgium’s inaugural federal test permit for a Level 4 autonomous shuttle. With this authorization, WeRide now stands as the sole technology company worldwide with products holding autonomous driving permits in seven nations: Belgium, China, France, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and the US.
The permit, formally signed this week by Minister of Mobility, Climate and Ecological Transition Jean-Luc Crucke at the Autonomous Mobility Summit, grants permission for WeRide’s Robobus to conduct testing on public roads along the 8km Leuven–Heverlee loop, which includes nine designated stops. This service will be delivered through a collaboration with Flemish public transport operator De Lijn, the City of Leuven, and mobility consultancy Espaces-Mobilités.
The WeRide Robobus operating in Leuven, Belgium
The test permit was issued following a thorough route safety analysis conducted by the Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport. Pending final endorsement from the Flemish authorities, the Robobus is set to commence public road testing in the coming weeks, initially accompanied by a safety officer onboard.
Once the testing phase concludes, De Lijn will implement a pilot autonomous shuttle service along the identical 8km route, running from mid-November through January 2026. This initiative will mark Belgium’s first commercial deployment of autonomous vehicles (AVs) in mixed traffic, enabling passengers to board using a digital ticket, SMS, or subscription. Subsequently, the shuttles are expected to transition into regular service.
“As an AV company, our primary objective is consistently to achieve safe Level 4 fully driverless operations. This test permit represents a significant stride in that journey, enabling us to demonstrate our technology under real-world conditions on public roads while establishing a strong precedent for future autonomous vehicle testing across Europe. We extend our gratitude to the Belgian authorities for their confidence in our technology and their support for safer, smarter, and more sustainable transportation,” stated Jennifer Li, CFO and Head of International of WeRide.
This development follows WeRide’s announcement last week that its Robobus had arrived in Leuven and entered field preparations, showcasing “WeRide speed” with a swift transition from delivery to public-road testing in just one week. The company is also rapidly expanding its footprint across Europe: last month, it rolled out its initial Robotaxis in Furttal, Switzerland, as part of the “iamo” (Intelligent Automated Mobility) pilot with Swiss Transit Lab, SBB, and the cantons of Zurich and Aargau. In March of this year, WeRide’s Robobus secured France’s Level-4 driverless public road testing and operating permit, in partnership with French autonomous mobility network operator beti.
About WeRide
WeRide stands as a prominent global innovator and an early pioneer in the autonomous driving sector, holding the distinction of being the first publicly listed Robotaxi enterprise. Our fleet of autonomous vehicles has undergone testing or operation in more than 30 cities spanning 11 nations. Furthermore, we are the sole technology firm whose offerings have obtained autonomous driving permits in seven distinct regions: China, Belgium, France, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the US. Leveraging the intelligent, flexible, economical, and highly adaptable WeRide One platform, WeRide delivers autonomous driving solutions and services ranging from L2 to L4, catering to transportation demands across the mobility, logistics, and sanitation industries. Fortune Magazine recognized WeRide in its 2024 “The Future 50” compilation.
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