A WeRide Robobus (front) operates at an airport in Zurich, Switzerland, on April 17. XINHUA

Chinese autonomous driving company WeRide is ramping up its overseas robotaxi operations from the Middle East to Europe and Southeast Asia, leveraging its Hong Kong listing as a springboard to scale commercial deployments beyond China at a moment that many investors see as a global inflection point for driverless transport.

The Guangzhou, Guangdong province-based firm completed a dual listing in Hong Kong and the United States late last year, marking the company's second IPO in just over a year.

While the listing adds another financing channel, WeRide's strategic focus is increasingly offshore. The company now operates autonomous vehicles in more than 40 cities across 11 countries and regions, with the Middle East, Singapore and parts of Europe emerging as its fastest growing markets.

The Middle East has become a cornerstone of WeRide's overseas strategy. In Abu Dhabi, the company has operated robotaxi services since 2021, making the emirate the first city in the region to launch commercial driverless ride-hailing. In partnership with Uber, WeRide now runs one of the largest robotaxi fleets outside China and the United States.

By late 2025, a single WeRide robotaxi in Abu Dhabi was completing up to 18 passenger trips per 12-hour shift, according to the company. Local fares are roughly four times higher than those in China's largest cities, offering significantly stronger revenue potential.

Source: China Daily
Editor: Lyu Yun