WeRide, a Chinese autonomous driving technology startup, has received approval from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to test driverless vehicles with passengers in California.

WeRide now holds two permits from the California Public Utilities Commission, allowing it to test its vehicles on public roads, with one requiring a human safety driver and the other not. However, the company cannot yet charge passengers, and the service is not open to the general public.

Analyst QuickTake: Today’s approval marks a significant step forward, as WeRide prepares to go public in the US with a valuation near USD 5 billion. WeRide's progress in California has been gradual, with its vehicles logging just over 42,000 autonomous miles in 2023 (with or without a safety driver), significantly less than competitors like Alphabet’s Waymo, which recorded over four million miles. WeRide has been testing driverless vehicles without passengers in San Jose since 2021, following approval from the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).