Chinese Company Approved to Test Robotaxis in California

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Chinese startup WeRide has received approval to test its fleet of autonomous vehicles in California, according to Reuters.

Permit Details and Testing Scope

The three-year permit, granted in 2026, allows testing of just 12 vehicles in and around San Jose. However, it explicitly prohibits accepting fares or transporting the general public. WeRide may operate with or without a safety driver, but any passengers must be company personnel.

Expanding Operations Amid Growing Competition

WeRide already holds robotaxi permits in the United Arab Emirates and Singapore. Its entry into California places it alongside established players, most notably Waymo, the Google spinoff that has expanded its commercial robotaxi service from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

Public and regulatory reception of robotaxis remains mixed, raising questions about WeRide’s prospects in the state.

Industry Challenges and Safety Scrutiny in 2026

The sector faced significant setbacks in 2025 when General Motors’ Cruise suspended its entire fleet after a pedestrian incident. In 2026, Cruise began reintroducing robotaxis in Phoenix, Arizona—this time with human drivers present.

Federal regulators are also examining 22 crashes involving Waymo vehicles that “exhibited driving behavior that potentially violated traffic safety laws.” The probe follows viral footage of a Waymo robotaxi driving on the wrong side of the street. In 2025, another Waymo vehicle struck and killed a dog in San Francisco, intensifying local calls to ban robotaxis statewide.

Given these developments, WeRide faces a demanding path forward in California.

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