Autonomous driving tech firm WeRide has launched its Robobus in Leuven, Belgium, marking the company’s entry into its eleventh international market and strengthening its presence across Europe.
The project is backed by Flemish transit operator De Lijn, the City of Leuven, and mobility consultancy Espaces-Mobilités. The robobus will start charting its route through central Leuven, linking Leuven Station with Heverlee.
Public road testing is scheduled to begin in mid-September, with a safety operator on board during the early stages. If testing receives approval from the Public Department of Mobility and Transport, De Lijn will launch a pilot autonomous shuttle service along the same route.
Set to commence in mid-November and run through January 2026, the pilot would mark Belgium’s first commercial deployment of autonomous vehicles (AVs) in mixed-traffic conditions.
Passengers will be able to use the service with digital tickets available via SMS, mobile app, or existing transit subscriptions. If the trial is successful, the autonomous shuttles are expected to become a permanent part of Leuven’s public transportation system.
Prior to launching the robobus service, Espaces-Mobilités and De Lijn undertook a comprehensive year-long training program centered on autonomous mobility. The initiative included a series of technical workshops and a study visit to WeRide’s headquarters in Guangzhou, China.
The pilot initiative has also received support from EIT Urban Mobility, a European Union program dedicated to promoting sustainable transportation through joint efforts between public institutions and private enterprises.
WeRide recently rolled out its inaugural robotaxi service in Furttal, Switzerland, and earlier this year unveiled Europe’s first fully autonomous commercial robobus operation in Valence, France. Additionally, the company also launched the world’s first around-the-clock, fully autonomous ride-hailing service in Guangzhou, China, using its Robotaxi GXR.
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