On January 9, 2025, WeRide (Nasdaq: WRD), a pioneering global autonomous driving technology company, announced the official test operation of autonomous shuttle buses at Zurich Airport in partnership with Flughafen Zürich AG. This marks Europe's inaugural commercial project for airport autonomous shuttle buses, setting a new standard for intelligent transportation systems at airports worldwide.

(WeRide's autonomous shuttle buses will offer transportation services at Zurich Airport)

Tripartite Collaboration

Led by Zurich Airport, the project was tendered with the support of Swiss Transit Lab (STL), a key player in Swiss intelligent transportation. WeRide was selected as the technology provider due to its global leadership in autonomous driving. Zurich Airport stated in its official press release, "WeRide boasts mature, reliable, and fully validated technology that fully adheres to all current laws, regulations, and safety standards at Zurich Airport, and will strictly comply with the airport's data protection requirements. The autonomous shuttle buses have already successfully completed testing in Paris by WeRide and its European partner Renault."

Airport Shuttle Services

Each of WeRide's mini-buses at Zurich Airport can accommodate up to 9 passengers, augmenting existing shuttle routes for airport staff, offering them more convenient commuting options. The route spans from the staff entrance at Gate 101 to the maintenance area at Gate 130, including multiple stops within the airport's non-taxiway zones. This route is entirely separate from the airport's flight operations area, making it an ideal test route for autonomous driving applications while ensuring operational safety and autonomy.

(WeRide's mini-bus route at Zurich Airport, stopping at multiple locations in non-taxiway areas)

Initially, WeRide's mini-buses will be equipped with an on-board safety officer to oversee vehicle operations. Based on initial performance, the project will transition to fully autonomous operation without on-board safety officers, utilizing remote monitoring. As per the plan, WeRide's shuttle services at Zurich Airport will commence official operations in the first quarter of 2025.

Notably, prior to the test operation, WeRide's Robotaxi completed map collection and mapping of the route at Zurich Airport. This indicates that WeRide's Robotaxi will see broader applications in Switzerland.

(In December 2024, WeRide's Robotaxi conducted map collection at Zurich Airport)

Technical Expertise

As one of Europe's busiest transportation hubs, Zurich Airport, nestled at the foot of the Alps, presents significant challenges to autonomous driving technology due to its complex operating environment and climatic conditions: The airport demands aviation-grade safety standards with stringent regulations on internal operation vehicle software and hardware systems; The route traverses narrow internal factory areas with high pedestrian traffic and randomly parked vehicles; The airport interacts with special vehicles like tow trucks, mobile gangways, luggage transports, and large snow removal equipment; The airport is characterized by intense special electromagnetic signals; and Within a day, it may experience varying weather conditions from sunny and cloudy to rainy and snowy, and must handle extreme weather like strong winds and low temperatures.

(WeRide's autonomous shuttle buses will offer transportation services at Zurich Airport)

With robust technical strength and extensive implementation experience, WeRide has successfully navigated these extreme challenges, providing Zurich Airport with a mature and reliable autonomous driving solution. This not only marks another milestone in WeRide's international business but also underscores its undeniable international competitiveness in autonomous driving.

(Interior view of WeRide's autonomous shuttle bus)

The Zurich Airport project follows several successful overseas deployments by WeRide. During the 2024 French Open, WeRide's mini-buses provided the exclusive on-site L4 autonomous driving shuttle service for VIPs and the media, covering an operating route of up to 5 kilometers. This was part of WeRide's collaboration with the Renault Group to promote low-carbon public transportation solutions in Europe. In June 2024, Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore also launched WeRide's autonomous shuttle bus service. In partnership with Resorts World Sentosa and EZ Buzz Pte. Ltd., WeRide opened a 1.2-kilometer shuttle route with four stops and a journey time of approximately 12 minutes.

Looking ahead, the ZRH Innovation Hub at Zurich Airport will spearhead the summation of key project experiences, deeply exploring the potential applications of autonomous driving technology, and formulating a comprehensive set of operating standards and regulations to ensure the safe and efficient operation of autonomous vehicles. Meanwhile, Zurich Airport is maintaining close communication with multiple international airports, including Brussels Airport and Amsterdam Airport, using this project as a model to jointly develop innovative autonomous driving solutions. WeRide's autonomous driving technology is expected to be deployed at more international airports.