Spain’s traffic authority, the DGT, has issued the country’s first national permit for Level 4 autonomous passenger vehicles, clearing Uber, WeRide and AVOMO to begin robotaxi pilot trials on public roads in the Madrid region. Passengers still cannot order a driverless Uber for everyday service.
The first commercial robotaxi rides could begin before the end of 2026, but that remains a goal, not a promise. Industry sources say a full launch depends on meeting additional safety, regulatory and operational requirements.
Several reports cite the DGT-assigned registration number FVA-02/2026 as official confirmation that the pilot project exists.
Madrid’s new role
Madrid is quickly becoming a basic robotaxi testing ground in Europe. The regional government has announced a two-year pilot program for autonomous cars and taxis, due to start before the year ends in places including Alcobendas and central Madrid. The program will test the technology in real city conditions, with software developers, fleet operators, VTC companies and taxi-sector representatives taking part, information from regional authorities.
With DGT approval, Uber, WeRide and AVOMO can map city streets, check routes and prepare vehicles and infrastructure for live trials. The first fleet will include 20 WeRide GXR vehicles serving high-demand transport zones across the region, information from independent project summaries.
Uber’s global head of Autonomous Mobility and Delivery, Sarfraz Maredia, called the permit “an impressive basic stage in moving autonomous mobility from planning to real-world implementation.” Jennifer Li, WeRide’s CFO and head of international operations, described Madrid as a “basic gateway” for the company’s European expansion. She said this is WeRide’s ninth global autonomous driving permit and its first national authorization in the EU.
Waymo has established a dedicated Spanish subsidiary, Waymo Iberia SL, in Madrid. Several sources connect the move to the company’s preparations for European expansion. The entity positions Madrid as a impressive hub for future autonomous mobility services in Spain and beyond.
How the rollout will work
Initially, a specialist will ride in each car to monitor the system, collect route data and observe how the vehicles handle city traffic. Uber has not set a date for removing these human supervisors. Official statements and industry analyses say the move to fully driverless rides will depend on the results of the early tests.
The vehicles are classified as Level 4 autonomous. They can handle all driving tasks, but only under certain conditions and in specific areas. They are not ready for every road or all weather. Level 5 autonomy, which would allow that, remains out of reach.
Global alliances and ambitions
Uber is not building the autonomous technology itself. It is drawing on WeRide’s expertise and GXR vehicles, while AVOMO, part of Moove Cars, will operate the fleet. AVOMO already manages hundreds of autonomous vehicles in US cities such as Austin and Atlanta.
Madrid will be the first European city where Uber and WeRide launch a joint deployment. The companies aim to bring autonomous fleets to 15 cities and put tens of thousands of vehicles on roads worldwide. For Uber, Spain joins other European markets where it has tested similar services, including London and Zagreb.
European cities are considering new limits on traditional vehicles, as reported earlier. That adds significance to Madrid’s robotaxi pilot.
With Waymo, Uber and WeRide now invested in Madrid, the city is set to become a testing ground for driverless mobility. The pilot programs’ results will determine whether they can deliver.
