Uber investing $100M into WeRide to bring robotaxis to 15 cities

In February, WeRide released its GXR robotaxi, which features L4 redundant drive-by-wire chassis architecture, open mobile travel space, and the world’s first hidden B-pillar design. | Source: WeRide

Uber and WeRide, a Chinese autonomous vehicle (AV) developer, are deepening their partnership. Uber will invest an additional $100 million into WeRide, according to a recent regulatory filing, and bring WeRide’s technology to 15 more cities over the next five years.

“We are excited to take our partnership with Uber to new heights. Expanding into new cities across multiple continents reflects both companies’ confidence in our technology and our shared commitment to innovative, sustainable transportation solutions,” said Tony Han, founder and CEO of WeRide. “This expansion aligns with WeRide’s ambitious strategy for global growth – to make autonomous driving solutions more affordable and accessible to people worldwide.”

This expansion follows WeRide’s AV launch in Abu Dhabi. Already, the company plans to launch a service in Dubai soon, with new cities in Europe to follow. WeRide said it plans to launch services in several new cities each year, all outside of the U.S. and China. So far, the U.S. and China have been leaders in AV deployments, with Alphabet’s Waymo leading the charge here.

Similar to Uber’s partnership with Waymo, WeRide’s robotaxi services will be available through the Uber app. Uber will handle fleet operations, while WeRide will be responsible for the technology powering the service.

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WeRide aims to bring robotaxis to Europe

WeRide has mostly gained traction deploying its AV technology in China. There, the company has launched services in Beijing, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Ordos, and Suzhou. Additionally, it has partnered with Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA).

As part of the agreement, Uber and RTA will collaborate on pilot programs, leveraging Uber’s technology to match riders with AVs while ensuring a seamless and user-friendly experience. The partnership will also explore data insights, safety protocols, and regulatory frameworks to support a smooth transition to autonomous mobility in Dubai.

This year, WeRide plans to launch its fully unmanned Robotaxi operations in Zurich, Switzerland. It already operates a Robobus autonomous shuttle service at the Zurich Airport in partnership with Flughafen Zürich AG and Swiss Transit Lab.

“Today’s announcement – one of the biggest partnerships of its kind ever announced – is a significant milestone towards realizing the promise of autonomous mobility in more places around the world,” said Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber. ”By leveraging Uber’s global scale, operational expertise, and leading marketplace technology, we are thrilled to partner with cutting-edge AV companies like WeRide to help them commercialize their vehicles and bring the benefits of autonomy to more riders.”

In October, WeRide was listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “WRD.” The company said it expected to raise $458.5 million from the public listing. Established in 2017, WeRide provides autonomous driving systems ranging from SAE Level 2 to Level 4. It has conducted research and development, testing, and operations across 30 cities in seven countries.

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