China's WeRide Expands Robotaxi 'Doomsday' for Online Drivers to Denmark

Chinese autonomous driving technology manufacturer WeRide is set to expand its service coverage, selecting Denmark as the latest country to access its driverless taxi service. The robotaxi operation in Denmark is the result of a partnership between WeRide and GreenMobility, which is currently awaiting regulatory approval. The service is planned for public release in the first half of 2027. WeRide is already present in five European countries: Spain, Slovakia, France, Belgium, and Switzerland. Similar services are also operating in China and the United Arab Emirates. Chinese manufacturers are continuously striving to launch their services outside the domestic market, a move taken amidst increasingly fierce competition and strict regulatory oversight. Europe has become a primary destination for these companies as it is seen as a potential growth market. One of the firms expanding into Europe is Pony.ai, which has partnered with Uber Technologies and Croatian autonomous mobility startup Verne to launch commercial services on the continent. Baidu has also chosen Europe for its Apollo Go business unit, partnering with Lyft-owned taxi app provider FreeNow, with both having conducted trials on the streets of London since late July. Meanwhile, Momenta has obtained permits to test autonomous vehicles on urban roads across Germany. The rapid expansion of robotaxi services brings a serious threat to the profession of online drivers in the future. If automated driving technology becomes truly mature with a robust safety system, the human driver profession will no longer be relevant.