WeRide (WRD.US) saw a notable increase in stock price overnight, closing up 3.52% at $7.36, with an intraday high of $7.48. The company announced its partnership with Uber to deploy a large-scale Robotaxi fleet in the Middle East, marking a significant milestone in the commercialization of autonomous driving.

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At Least 1,200 Robotaxis to Launch, Middle East Becomes a Key Global Expansion Hub

WeRide and Uber plan to deploy at least 1,200 autonomous taxis (Robotaxis) in major cities across the Middle East, including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Riyadh. The vehicles will be fully integrated into the Uber App, providing daily transportation services to the public. This means that autonomous driving is no longer confined to demonstration or specialized scenarios but is deeply integrated into mainstream transportation platforms. The deployment scale is considered to be relatively high in the current global Robotaxi commercialization process, reflecting both companies' mature assessment of the Middle East market demand, regulatory environment, and operational feasibility.

Abu Dhabi First to Achieve Fully Driverless Commercial Operation, Regional Expansion Path Becoming Clearer

WeRide and Uber have already achieved fully driverless Robotaxi commercialization in Abu Dhabi, making it one of the few cities in the world to operate without safety drivers. Meanwhile, in Dubai and Riyadh, Robotaxis have entered public operation and are open for use by ordinary consumers. This expansion follows the logic of "starting with regulatory-friendly cities and then replicating to key regional cities," laying the foundation for future fleet expansion and operational radius growth.

Uber Commits to Further Investment, Deeper Cooperation Expected

Uber has stated that after receiving key regulatory approvals and achieving milestones such as full driverless Robotaxi commercialization in core city areas, it will significantly increase its investment in Robotaxis. This means that the current 1,200 vehicles are not the upper limit but rather the starting point for large-scale deployment. As one of the largest global ride-hailing platforms, Uber has significant advantages in traffic, dispatch systems, and user reach. WeRide's deep cooperation with Uber helps reduce customer acquisition costs, improve vehicle utilization, and continuously optimize its autonomous driving systems during actual operations.

Commercialization Certainty Increases, Long-Term Value Logic Gradually Unfolding

As Robotaxis transition from trial operations to large-scale and regular operations, WeRide's business focus is shifting from "technology validation" to "commercial realization." In an increasingly competitive global autonomous driving market, companies that can be the first to achieve fully driverless, large-scale deployment are more likely to have their long-term valuation logic understood and priced by the capital markets. The large-scale deployment in the Middle East with Uber not only strengthens WeRide's position in the global autonomous driving landscape but also provides a more convincing example for its subsequent business expansion and commercialization process.

How to Buy WeRide via on uSMART

After logging into the uSMART HK app, click the “Search” button in the top-right corner of the page, enter the ticker code (WRD.US), and navigate to the details page to view transaction details and historical trends. Click the “Trade” button in the bottom-right corner, select the trade type, and submit your order after filling in the transaction conditions.

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