WeRide GXR: The autonomous vehicle which comes closest to a UK style black taxi
WeRide, a pioneering company in the autonomous driving space, has just unveiled its latest model: the GXR Robotaxi. Marketed as the world’s most spacious autonomous vehicle to date, the GXR brings together cutting-edge technology and passenger-focused design in a way that could very well redefine the future of public transport. But with this technological leap forward, one question springs to mind: is this the closest an autonomous vehicle has come to resembling the traditional UK black cab?
For decades, black cabs have been a symbol of London’s streets—renowned for their spacious interiors, easy access, and reliability. They are often cited for their unrivalled passenger experience, not least because of their generous legroom, smooth entry and exit, and the driver’s detailed knowledge of the city’s streets. Now, WeRide’s GXR Robotaxi seems to be ticking many, but not all, of the same boxes.
The GXR certainly introduces some striking features. WeRide’s extensive experience in autonomous vehicle operations is evident throughout the vehicle. The GXR utilises a Level 4 autonomous driving system, one of the highest levels of automation currently possible, allowing it to navigate public roads without human intervention.
WeRide’s technology has been refined over more than 1,800 days of public Robotaxi operations, spanning a range of traffic conditions and challenges. At first glance, the GXR appears to be more aligned with the future than the past. It is fitted with the Sensor Suite 5.6, a system incorporating over 20 sensors including high-performance LiDAR and high-definition cameras. These sensors provide 360° coverage around the vehicle, ensuring there are no blind spots and allowing the GXR to detect obstacles up to 200 metres away. This kind of advanced tech places it leagues ahead of traditional vehicles in terms of perception and awareness on the road, but that’s not where the GXR’s appeal stops.
Where the GXR starts to resemble a modern take on the black cab is its focus on passenger space and accessibility. The vehicle’s design prioritises interior space, much like the iconic black cab, known for accommodating passengers with luggage or prams comfortably. The GXR achieves this by eliminating the front passenger seat altogether, offering a huge increase in cabin space, just like a black cab. Its second and third-row seats provide ample legroom, and the vehicle boasts an overall length of 5,018mm, making it one of the largest autonomous models in production. This design ensures that passengers can stretch out, which is vital for longer journeys.
Another key parallel with the black cab is the GXR’s ease of access. The Robotaxi incorporates a hidden B-pillar design, which allows both the front and side doors to open simultaneously, creating an expansive 1,831mm wide entryway. This feature makes getting in and out of the vehicle remarkably easy, much like the familiar black cab, which has long been appreciated for its accessibility, particularly for older passengers or those with disabilities.
With this, the GXR seems to be catering to the same demographic that values the black cab for its user-friendly design. The GXR also incorporates a designated luggage area, accessible without the need to open a separate boot. This is another nod to the black cab’s practicality, where passengers are used to loading their belongings within the vehicle itself, saving time and effort. It’s features like this that suggest WeRide has taken passenger convenience to heart, much in the same way that the black cab has done for years.
However, where the GXR diverges from the traditional black cab is in its reliance on technology rather than human expertise. In London, cabbies go through years of training to master “The Knowledge” —a detailed mental map of the city’s streets. This local expertise is part of what makes the black cab such an efficient mode of transport. With GXR, however, it’s all about machine learning and AI. The vehicle relies on WeRide’s advanced computing systems to handle complex traffic conditions, such as high-speed night driving or congested city centres. Its high-performance computing platform can handle over 1,300 TOPS (trillion operations per second), ensuring that the vehicle can process the vast amounts of data it collects in real-time.
In many ways, the GXR offers a glimpse of what an autonomous future could look like, where traditional elements of comfort, space, and ease of access meet advanced AI. But the question remains: will the public see this new form of transport as a worthy successor to the iconic black cab? Or will the human element— the personal interaction, trust, and knowledge—still reign supreme? Only time will tell if the GXR and vehicles of its ilk can truly replace a centuries-old institution of the UK’s streets when and/or if they enter the market in years to come.
