Uber recibe el permiso de la DGT para operar coches autónomos en Madrid

Uber has received permission from Spain's Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) to operate autonomous cars in Madrid. The company plans to begin testing in the capital at the end of the year, with initial trials involving a driver. Within weeks, autonomous cars will start circulating in the Spanish capital, albeit with an operator on board.

WeRide, Uber's autonomous vehicle division, and AVOMO, Moove Cars' autonomous vehicle unit, have received the first nationwide authorization in Spain for Level 4 autonomous taxis, granted by the DGT. Level 4 autonomy allows the vehicle to operate independently within specific areas or conditions, with no human intervention required.

The permit allows Uber to start preparatory activities, including mapping, route validation, and operational preparation tests. The initial deployment phase will involve twenty autonomous vehicles from WeRide, which will travel through high-demand areas of Madrid under the supervision of an expert. Uber aims to launch a commercial service for passengers by the end of the year, but will operate with a driver due to safety and regulatory concerns.

The company estimates that within months, the vehicles could begin autonomous operation without a driver by 2027. This is the first nationwide authorization in the European Union for the autonomous vehicle GXR from WeRide, the car that will travel through Madrid's streets. Uber is moving ahead of its competitors Bolt and Cabify, who are also working on deploying driverless cars in Spain, specifically in Madrid, and will also participate in the pilots in the capital.

Although the service already operates in U.S., Chinese, and UAE cities, Europe is currently in a testing and pilot phase before deploying fleets of driverless vehicles in major cities.