Chinese autonomous driving technology company WeRide launched its first autonomous taxi trial operation services in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday.

The trial operation service covers the King Khalid International Airport and several key locations throughout Riyadh, including highways and select city center destinations.

During the trial phase, the vehicles will transport passengers with a safety officer onboard to monitor system performance in real conditions.

The full-fledged commercial operation of autonomous taxis in Riyadh is expected to commence by the end of 2025, according to WeRide, based in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province.

"We will continue to drive the implementation of innovative technologies to build an internationally competitive, efficient, and sustainable transportation system to promote economic growth and enhance residents' quality of life," said Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, Minister of Transport and Logistics Services and Chairman of the Board of the Transport General Authority.

The autonomous taxi operation aligns with the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy and supports Saudi Vision 2030 in embracing sustainable mobility solutions powered by artificial intelligence.

"Saudi Arabia's innovative vision provides an ideal market for expanding international business for companies," said Li Xuan, chief financial officer of WeRide.