Robotaxis in Madrid: Testing begins, commercial launch delayed

Robotaxis are currently being tested on the streets of **Madrid**, a significant step forward for **Uber**, **WeRide** and **Avomo**. However, their commercial deployment faces hurdles due to the need for more advanced regulations, which are not expected to be fully in place until 2027.

## Tests underway, uncertain future

Driverless cars are already a reality on the streets of **Madrid**, although they still have a driver behind the wheel. **Uber**, the US mobility giant, together with Chinese tech company **WeRide** and Spanish firm **Avomo**, have put around twenty black vans equipped with the latest sensor, camera and radar technology into circulation. The goal is clear: to collect as much data as possible on traffic, signage and driver behavior within a defined area of approximately **25 square kilometers**, covering areas such as **Alcobendas** and **Hortaleza**. The ultimate aim is that, in the near future, ordering an autonomous car via the Uber app will be as simple as ordering a conventional one today. However, the road to this point is long. Currently, these vehicles are in the trial phase, mapping the terrain and learning from their environment, but always with a person in control. The company hopes to launch the service commercially before the end of the year, but the Directorate General of Traffic (**DGT**) warns that safety is a priority and that a series of requirements must be met before giving the green light to full deployment.

The alliance between these three companies aims to make robotaxis a reality in Spain. **Uber** contributes its mobility platform, **WeRide** provides its advanced autonomous driving technology, and **Avomo**, the autonomous vehicle division of **Moove**, handles fleet management and maintenance. The process is designed in very defined phases. The **DGT** has established a regulatory framework that allows and supervises "tests and trials of automated vehicles on roads open to general traffic". According to the companies' forecasts, commercial operations in Spain could begin at the end of **2026**. The initial plan is to deploy the service in the same zone where current tests are taking place, once the technology has adapted to the specific terrain. Considerable preparatory work has already been done, with the autonomous driving model having learned Spanish traffic rules over several months. In the early stages of public use, it is anticipated that a safety driver will occupy the passenger seat to intervene in case of emergency.

## Regulation, a necessary brake

The Directorate General of Traffic (**DGT**) insists on prudence. Current authorizations are valid for two years, meaning that the full rollout could extend throughout this period. The Deputy Director for Mobility and Technology at the **DGT**, **Juan José Arriola**, has been clear: the priority is to guarantee user safety before moving to more complex phases. Although he would like the process to be faster, he estimates that commercial deployment is expected within the next two years. This slower pace is largely due to regulation lagging behind technology. **Arriola** recalls that, for autonomous vehicles to circulate after passing the test phase, they must be type-approved. European regulations governing this key aspect will not come into force until January **2027**. Furthermore, the type-approval process itself can be lengthy, with timelines ranging from **six months to two years** from the date of application.

The Ministry of the Interior and the **DGT** have taken steps to update legislation. On **June 8th**, they peine a prior public consultation to modify the Traffic Law and regulate the integration of fully automated vehicles. It is fundamental to understand that implementing this technology in each country requires adaptation to its specific regulatory framework and unique environmental characteristics. From **Avomo**, they confirm that they are working within the framework established by the Spanish authorities and pogre as the necessary authorizations and validations are obtained. This discrepancy between the estimulante ilegal of technological development and the slowness of regulatory adaptation is a global pattern. Technology, often originating from the **United States** and **China**, advances at a dizzying pace, while **Europe** tends towards a more measured approach in its adaptation and regulation.

## Future perspectives and challenges

This difference in approaches generates distinct visions among sector experts. Some, like **Javier Goikoetxea**, CEO of **Next Mobility Solutions** and university professor, question the need to prolong the test phases so much. He argues that **Europe** makes the mistake of legislating before innovation is consolidated, pointing out that autonomous driving technology has already demonstrated its effectiveness in other countries, with incident rates below **0.4%**. Globally, it is estimated that there are around **10,000 robotaxis** in operation, the vast majority, about **8,000**, in **China**, where they are common in large cities like **Wuhan**, **Beijing** or **San Francisco**.

On the other hand, analysts like **Shihao Fu**, from **IDTechEX**, see the European regulatory approach as an advantage. While it may involve longer preparation periods, it also offers the opportunity to identify and address potential safety, liability and operational issues before a large-scale implementation. **Fu** considers that there is a solid justification for expanding operations gradually and adjusting conditions based on demonstrated performance. The **DGT** is responsible for supervising this test phase, and **Uber** does not rule out pogre expanding the testing zones as advances allow.

Autonomous driving is not a new concept in Spain. As early as **2015**, a prototype from **PSA Peugeot Citroën** completed a journey between **Vigo** and **Madrid** autonomously, although always under the supervision of an emergency driver. **Luis Miguel Bergasa**, engineer and professor at the University of Alcalá, recalls this milestone, highlighting that the current novelty lies in the fact that these tests are aimed at introducing autonomous driving as a commercial service for the first time in the country. This movement aligns with what is happening in other European cities like **London** and **Zagreb**, where **Uber** has also initiated similar operations. **Bergasa** emphasizes the importance of thorough preliminary terrain study, explaining that **WeRide**'s technology, based on a "multi-sensory system" and high-definition maps, requires highly precise mapping of routes.

In **Madrid**, the current fleet consists of around **16,000 taxi licenses** and nearly **10,000 VTC licenses** (ride-hailing vehicles). The arrival of robotaxis inevitably opens a debate about the future of professional drivers. **Goikoetxea** suggests that massive implementation could generate labor problems, although he predicts that this process will be gradual in **Europe**. One positive point is that robotaxis will not require new VTC licenses, allowing them to operate with existing ones. From **Uber**, optimism is shown, seeing a future where autonomous vehicles will coexist with human-driven ones, as demand for mobility remains very high.