Slovakia turns into WeRide’s fourth European market after France, Belgium, and Switzerland.WeRide enters Slovakia by way of a landmark partnership with ELEVATE Slovakia, an initiative bringing collectively the Ministry of Transport of the Slovak Republic, Metropolis of Bratislava, Slovak Put up, educational establishments, and personal firms to deploy WeRide’s multi-product autonomous car (AV) portfolio.Testing will begin in capital Bratislava within the first half of 2026, earlier than increasing to Košice and the Excessive Tatras resort space, paving the best way for absolutely driverless business operations.
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia, March 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD, HKEX: 0800), a worldwide chief in autonomous driving know-how, at the moment introduced its entry into Slovakia via a strategic partnership with ELEVATE Slovakia to deploy autonomous autos (AVs), launching the nation’s first AV program. This national-level rollout represents Europe’s first large-scale, multi-product autonomous driving business deployment. The transfer marks WeRide’s fourth European market after France, Belgium, and Switzerland, increasing its international footprint to over 40 cities throughout 12 international locations.
ELEVATE Slovakia is a nationwide, multi-stakeholder initiative that brings collectively public sector companions such because the Ministry of Transport of the Slovak Republic; Ministry of Investments, Regional Growth and Informatization of the Slovak Republic; the Metropolis of Bratislava; Slovak Put up; academia and personal firms. It goals to ascertain a secure, regulatory-ready framework for autonomous mobility, with the long-term goal of enabling nationwide absolutely driverless business operations.
WeRide will deploy its multi-product portfolio in Slovakia – together with the Robotaxi, Robobus, Robovan, and Robosweeper – to help autonomous passenger mobility with the Ministry of Transport of the Slovak Republic, parcel logistics automation with Slovak Put up, and sensible sanitation operations with municipal companions such because the Metropolis of Bratislava. The primary WeRide AVs are anticipated to reach in Slovakia in spring 2026, with testing scheduled to start out within the first half of 2026 in Bratislava, adopted by enlargement to Košice and the Excessive Tatras. All testing will probably be performed beneath Ministry of Transport supervision to make sure compliance with Slovak and European laws, paving the best way for absolutely driverless business operations as soon as all legislative and security necessities have been met.
“I view the signing of this agreement as the beginning of a process that will allow Slovakia to responsibly and in a controlled manner test autonomous technologies in transport. It will enable us to verify technologies transparently, with the participation of the state and with an emphasis on the public interest,” mentioned Minister of Transport Jozef Ráž.
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“WeRide’s global expansion is picking up speed as more governments and cities advance large-scale autonomous mobility. With plans for over 2,600 active Robotaxis by the end of 2026 and tens of thousands globally by 2030, Slovakia represents a strategic next step as we extend our global presence to 12 countries. By engaging early with governments, we aim to be their go-to partner and set the standards for safe, scalable AV commercialization,” mentioned Dr. Tony Han, Founder and CEO of WeRide.
Below the settlement with ELEVATE Slovakia, WeRide will function the autonomous driving know-how supplier, whereas Slovak know-how firm DiusAi will act because the technological and implementation companion answerable for system integration and native operational help.
“Cooperation with WeRide is our first step toward ensuring that Slovakia does not merely adopt these technologies from abroad, but is able to actively test them, professionally evaluate them, and gradually integrate them into its own environment. We are aware that the path toward autonomous transport requires time, extensive testing, open expert discussion, and gradual adjustments to the legislative framework. This is precisely why we consider the ELEVATE Slovakia initiative to be key,” mentioned DiusAi CEO Patrik Tkáč.
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“Testing autonomous technologies represents an interesting opportunity for companies as well as for the creation of new jobs in the field of AI and innovation. Moreover, this opportunity can provide us with real data and experience that can be used in urban transport planning,” mentioned Bratislava’s Chief Metropolis Strategist Ján Mazúr.
About WeRide
WeRide is a worldwide chief and a primary mover within the autonomous driving trade, in addition to the primary publicly traded Robotaxi firm. Our autonomous autos have been examined or operated in over 40 cities throughout 12 international locations. We’re additionally the primary and solely know-how firm whose merchandise have acquired autonomous driving permits in eight markets: China, the UAE, Singapore, France, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, and the US. Empowered by the sensible, versatile, cost-effective, and extremely adaptable WeRide One platform, WeRide gives autonomous driving services and products from L2 to L4, addressing transportation wants within the mobility, logistics, and sanitation industries. WeRide was named to Fortune’s 2025 Change the World and 2025 Future 50 lists.
https://www.weride.ai
About ELEVATE Slovakia
The ELEVATE Slovakia initiative serves as a long-term coordinating platform for the event of autonomous mobility in Slovakia. It brings collectively public establishments, academia, and the personal sector with the aim of making a secure, revolutionary, and regulatorily sustainable atmosphere for the analysis, testing, and deployment of autonomous applied sciences.
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https://elevateslovakia.com
About DiusAI
DiusAi is a Slovak know-how firm targeted on the analysis, improvement, and deployment of superior synthetic intelligence options. At DiusAi, the crew believes that know-how ought to be taught from individuals, not management them, and subsequently creates AI that understands customers, their wants, and their mind-set. The corporate’s flagship product at present beneath improvement is Jarvis—a private AI assistant that listens, understands, and learns from the person, with a powerful emphasis on privateness, personalization, and safe adaptation to particular person wants.
https://dius.ai/sk
Media Contacts
WeRide:
Ministry of Transport of the Slovak Republic:
DiusAI:
Cellular: +421 911 718 259
Secure Harbor Assertion
This press launch comprises statements that will represent “forward-looking” statements pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Non-public Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements could be recognized by terminology corresponding to “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to,” and comparable statements. Statements that aren’t historic details, together with statements about WeRide’s beliefs, plans, and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Ahead-looking statements contain inherent dangers and uncertainties. Additional data relating to these and different dangers is included in WeRide’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Alternate Fee and bulletins on the web site of the Hong Kong Inventory Alternate. All data supplied on this press launch is as of the date of this press launch. WeRide doesn’t undertake any obligation to replace any forward-looking assertion, besides as required beneath relevant regulation.
