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Renault Group and WeRide have launched their autonomous Robobus trial in Spain, offering a free service in the centre of Barcelona from 10 to 14 March.
This marks the first test in Spain of the companies’ Level-4 autonomous vehicle for public transport, following successful trials during the Roland-Garros 2024 tennis tournament.
Approved by the Barcelona City Council and the Directorate General of Traffic, the Robobus trial in Barcelona involves a 2.2km route with four stops.
In May 2024, Renault unveiled its autonomous vehicle strategy and, together with WeRide, launched an open-road experiment with two autonomous miniBuses during the Roland-Garros tennis international.
The test, which covered 1,000km and transported nearly 700 passengers, demonstrated the technology's readiness and the viability of this passenger transport solution.
Beyond Barcelona, further trials are planned across Europe.
In Valence, France, Renault Group, WeRide, beti, and Macif are preparing a commercial service for Level-4 automated shuttles after an initial trial from 10 March to 19 April.
The 3.3km open-road service will connect a TGV railway station with a 162ha business park, serving 150 companies and 3,000 employees.
Meanwhile, at Zurich Airport, WeRide has been conducting an autonomous transport trial since January 2025, assisting employees in moving between terminals.
The project aims to demonstrate the capability of autonomous technologies to function in high-security environments while meeting stringent safety and reliability requirements.
WeRide founder and CEO Tony Han said: “This Barcelona trial represents a pivotal moment in WeRide's international expansion strategy, demonstrating our technology leadership beyond Asian markets and into the heart of Europe.
“By bringing our Level-4 autonomous Robobus to navigate Barcelona's complex urban environment in real traffic conditions, we're showcasing not just the maturity of our technology, but its adaptability to diverse global settings.”
Renault is also focusing on advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) for individual vehicles, offering features such as adaptive cruise control and lane keeping systems to enhance safety and comfort while keeping the driver in control.
In a separate announcement, Renault plans to cut 300 jobs at its a van production facility in Normandy, northern France, reported Reuters.
The move comes in response to slowing demand for commercial vehicles in Europe amid growing economic uncertainty.
The French company, which is the European van market leader under its Renault brand, makes about 14% of its sales from the vehicles used by delivery companies and tradesmen.