Spain has taken a major regulatory step towards autonomous passenger transport, with the country's traffic authority granting its first national authorization specifically for Level 4 autonomous passenger vehicles in the robotaxi category.

The authorization was issued to AVOMO Cars in partnership with WeRide and Uber and covers an initial fleet of 20 vehicles. The first stage will involve supervised testing and operational preparation in the Greater Madrid region rather than a fully commercial driverless taxi service.

First national authorization for Level 4 robotaxis

The Directorate-General for Traffic, known as the DGT, issued authorization FVA-02/2026 on September 10.

The DGT's official automated-vehicle registry lists AVOMO CARS (WeRide & Uber) as the authorization holder, with 20 vehicles classified as robotaxis and operating at SAE Level 4.

The authorization is part of the DGT's ES-AV framework governing tests and operations involving automated vehicles on public roads.

What the permit actually allows

The new authorization does not mean passengers can immediately open an Uber app and order a completely driverless vehicle.

The DGT registry classifies the authorization as authorised testing.

The first phase is focused on preparing the future service, including mapping roads, validating routes and checking operational readiness under real-world conditions.

This distinction is important because Spain already has other authorised Level 4 automated-vehicle projects. The significance of FVA-02/2026 is that it is the first national authorization specifically registered for autonomous passenger vehicles using a robotaxi service model.

Twenty vehicles will begin the initial phase

The first fleet will consist of 20 vehicles equipped with WeRide's autonomous-driving technology.

The companies say the vehicles will operate across various high-demand areas within the Greater Madrid region as they build the infrastructure and operational knowledge needed for a future commercial service.

An in-car vehicle specialist will be present during the initial phase to supervise the system and support the testing process.

What Level 4 autonomy means

SAE Level 4 vehicles are designed to perform the entire driving task within a defined operational domain without requiring a human driver to continuously control the vehicle.

That does not mean the vehicle can operate autonomously everywhere or under every possible condition.

The technology is designed for specific environments, routes and operating conditions determined by the system and the authorization covering its use.

Madrid becomes the launch region

The Greater Madrid region has been selected as the initial operating area for the WeRide and Uber project.

The companies describe the Madrid market as an important European mobility centre with substantial demand for ride-hailing and urban transport.

The first phase will therefore focus on areas where the technology can be tested and future routes can be prepared before a commercial launch.

Commercial rides targeted for the end of 2026

WeRide and Uber expect commercial autonomous-vehicle operations in Spain to begin by the end of 2026.

That date is a target rather than a guaranteed launch date.

The companies say commercial operations depend on completing deployment preparations and reaching the necessary operational and regulatory milestones.

The current DGT authorization itself covers testing and preparation, not the unrestricted commercial deployment of driverless robotaxis.

A new national framework for automated vehicles

The authorization is being issued under Spain's ES-AV programme, introduced by the DGT to create a national framework for evaluating the safety and technology of automated vehicles.

The programme establishes procedures for testing automated or remotely operated vehicles on public roads before they are placed into full service.

It also creates a public registry showing the main details of authorised automated-vehicle tests.

The DGT's current registry lists projects involving autonomous shuttles, buses and other automated vehicles in addition to the new robotaxi programme.

Spain already has other Level 4 projects

The new authorization should not be confused with the first time a Level 4 automated vehicle has operated under Spanish testing rules.

The DGT registry includes earlier Level 4 projects, such as autonomous shuttles and buses.

Those projects demonstrate that automated driving trials have already been taking place in Spain.

What makes FVA-02/2026 different is the combination of national authorization, passenger transport and the robotaxi use case involving Uber, WeRide and AVOMO.

WeRide and Uber's wider European plans

The Madrid deployment is part of a broader strategic partnership between WeRide and Uber.

The companies say Madrid is the fourth city in their planned 15-city expansion programme, with additional deployments envisaged through 2030.

Their wider objective is to deploy autonomous vehicles across multiple international markets, with WeRide providing autonomous-driving technology, Uber providing its mobility platform and AVOMO handling fleet operations in Madrid.

The companies describe the Spanish programme as their first joint autonomous-vehicle deployment in Europe.

Waymo is also establishing a presence in Spain

The Madrid autonomous-vehicle sector is not limited to the WeRide-Uber project.

Waymo, the autonomous-driving company owned by Alphabet, has established a Spanish subsidiary called Waymo Iberia SL.

According to Spain's official commercial registry, the company was incorporated in June 2026 and is based in Madrid. Its stated corporate purpose includes providing transport services using autonomous vehicles and supporting the commercial provision of such services by third parties.

The company has not, however, been identified as part of the FVA-02/2026 authorization.

The difference between testing and a public robotaxi service

For Madrid residents, the most important point is that autonomous vehicles are entering the testing and preparation phase rather than immediately replacing conventional taxis or VTC services.

The 20 vehicles are being used to collect information, validate routes and prepare the operational systems required for a future service.

A later transition to commercial passenger operations will depend on regulatory requirements, safety performance and operational readiness.

What could change later

Should the project move successfully from testing to commercial operation, passengers could eventually be able to request autonomous vehicles through Uber in selected areas of Madrid.

The precise operating zones, launch date, commercial conditions and extent of driverless operation have not yet been finalised.

The initial testing period will provide the companies and authorities with more information about how the technology performs on Madrid's roads.

Spain enters a new phase of autonomous mobility

The DGT's FVA-02/2026 authorization represents a formal move from autonomous-vehicle testing towards the preparation of a robotaxi service for the Spanish market.

For now, the deployment remains supervised and limited to the testing phase.

But with 20 Level 4 vehicles authorised, Madrid is becoming an important location for the development of autonomous passenger transport in Spain.

The next milestone will be determining whether the vehicles can complete the required testing and regulatory steps before the companies' targeted commercial launch at the end of 2026.