Uber is bringing robotaxis from China’s WeRide onto its platform — but not in the US

• Uber is partnering with Chinese self-driving firm WeRide to add more robotaxis to its app.
• The ride-hailing giant will launch its first service with WeRide in Abu Dhabi later this year.
• Uber said the partnership isn’t coming to the US.

Uber is partnering with a Chinese tech giant to add more robotaxis to its app — but don’t expect them to come to the US anytime soon.

The ride-hailing company announced a partnership with Chinese self-driving firm WeRide on Wednesday, which will allow users to access WeRide’s autonomous vehicles via the Uber app.

The partnership is expected to launch later this year in Abu Dhabi, where WeRide already has a robotaxi fleet in operation.

The two companies have not announced any additional locations, but they have ruled out future launches in both the US and China.

Chinese car companies face growing barriers to entering the US market thanks to new trade restrictions.

The US government unveiled planned new restrictions on Chinese auto software on Monday that would make it highly difficult for Chinese self-driving vehicles to operate in the country.

Uber’s deal with WeRide is the latest partnership it has struck with a robotaxi company as it seeks to add more self-driving vehicles to its platform.

The company has struck deals with autonomous vehicle companies Cruise and Wayve in the past few months and announced earlier this month that it would expand its partnership with Google-backed robotaxi firm Waymo to Austin and Atlanta.

Uber and WeRide did not immediately respond to requests for comment, sent outside normal working hours.