Slovakia Becomes a Testing Ground for WeRide: Driverless Robotaxis, Vans, and Street Sweepers Set to Debut

On March 19, 2026, the global autonomous driving landscape shifted as the Chinese technology firm WeRide officially announced its strategic expansion into the Slovakian market. In a landmark partnership with the ELEVATE Slovakia initiative, the company is set to spearhead the nation’s inaugural comprehensive program for self-driving vehicles. This move represents a significant milestone for the European continent, marking one of the first instances where multiple categories of autonomous commercial transport will be deployed simultaneously within a single national framework.

The entry into Slovakia signifies WeRide’s fourth major foray into the European sector, following successful established operations in France, Belgium, and Switzerland. The ELEVATE Slovakia project is a massive collaborative effort, bringing together a diverse coalition that includes the Ministry of Transport, various government departments, the municipal government of Bratislava, and the Slovak Post. Academic institutions and private enterprises are also heavily involved, with the local firm DiusAi taking the lead on technical integration and on-the-ground operational support. The primary objective of this consortium is to systematically develop the regulatory and legal infrastructure necessary to support fully autonomous services across the entire country in the coming years.

WeRide intends to deploy a versatile fleet of specialized vehicles to address various urban needs within the country. This lineup includes:

• Robotaxis designed for efficient passenger transportation across urban centers.
• Robovans dedicated to logistics and parcel delivery in direct cooperation with the Slovak Post.
• Robosweepers, which are autonomous utility vehicles tasked with maintaining clean city streets.

The first wave of these high-tech vehicles is scheduled to arrive in the spring of 2026, with rigorous road testing slated to begin in Bratislava during the first half of that year. Pending the successful fulfillment of safety protocols and legislative requirements, the project organizers envision expanding these services to other key regions, including the city of Košice and the scenic High Tatras.

Since its inception in 2017, WeRide has rapidly scaled its operations and currently maintains a presence in more than ten countries worldwide. The company has secured vital permits for both testing and commercial use of autonomous technology across diverse regions, including Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the United States. Following a period of record-breaking revenue generated by its robotaxi services, WeRide has articulated an ambitious roadmap to have thousands of autonomous vehicles operational globally by the year 2030. The Slovakian initiative serves as a critical proof-of-concept, demonstrating how cutting-edge driverless technology can be safely and effectively integrated into the complex fabric of European transport systems.