WeRide Robotaxi: 40+ Cities, 11 Countries, 1,600+ Vehicles, Abu Dhabi Commercial Fares

WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD) operates one of the world's most geographically diversified robotaxi fleets, with active deployments spanning over 40 cities across 11 countries as of early 2026. The company distinguishes itself through the breadth of its international licensing agreements and its status as the first autonomous driving company to receive regulatory approval for commercial fare collection from fully driverless vehicles in Abu Dhabi (October 2025) — a landmark in the global robotaxi industry. In Abu Dhabi, WeRide's robotaxi service operates under a exclusive commercial permit framework established by the Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT). Unlike supervised autonomous vehicle deployments in other markets, WeRide's Abu Dhabi service charges public fares for rides with zero safety operator in the vehicle — a world's first for a commercial robotaxi service at this scale. The company achieved per-vehicle profitability in its most mature markets, demonstrating the viability of the robotaxi business model at commercial scale. WeRide's technology platform uses a combination of LiDAR, cameras, inertial measurement units, and high-precision GPS with proprietary algorithms for perception, prediction, and motion planning. The system handles complex urban scenarios including unmapped construction zones, emergency vehicles, and adverse weather conditions. The company's coverage in China alone exceeds 1,000 square kilometers of geofenced urban operating territory. International expansion includes deployments in Singapore (with the Land Transport Authority), Bangkok, Thailand (in partnership with a major Thai conglomerate), and exploration of entry into European markets. Goldman Sachs estimates the global robotaxi market could exceed $25 billion annually by 2030, with WeRide positioned as a top-three global operator alongside Baidu and Waymo. Competitors include Pony.ai (also operating in 10+ Chinese cities) and Apollo Go, making the China robotaxi market the most competitive globally.