WeRide Inc.(US:WRD) Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-05-21 10:25Core Insights - WeRide reported a strong performance in Q1 2025 with total revenue of 72.44 million yuan, reflecting steady growth and a leading gross margin of 35.0% in the industry [1][5] - The company's Robotaxi revenue reached 16.10 million yuan, accounting for 22.3% of total revenue, marking a significant year-on-year increase of 10.4 percentage points [1][5] - WeRide has deepened its strategic partnership with Uber, resulting in a historic Robotaxi collaboration plan and an additional $100 million equity investment from Uber [1][5] Financial Performance - Total revenue for Q1 2025 was 72.44 million yuan, showing a steady increase [5] - The gross margin for the quarter was 35.0%, leading the industry [5] - Robotaxi revenue was 16.10 million yuan, contributing 22.3% to total revenue, with a year-on-year increase of 10.4 percentage points [5] - The company has a strong cash reserve of approximately 900 million yuan [5] - The board has authorized a share buyback of up to $100 million equivalent over the next 12 months, indicating confidence in future growth [5] Commercialization Progress - WeRide achieved significant breakthroughs in its Robotaxi business, partnering with Uber for the largest Robotaxi collaboration in history, planning to expand to 15 new cities over the next five years [4][5] - The company launched 8 Robotaxi operational routes in Guangzhou, connecting key landmarks and transportation hubs [7] - WeRide initiated the first pure unmanned Robotaxi testing in Abu Dhabi, establishing the first unmanned Robotaxi fleet in the Middle East [9] - Plans to launch Robotaxi services in Dubai have been announced, marking the second city in Europe for this collaboration [11] Strategic Collaborations - WeRide upgraded its strategic partnership with Tencent Cloud, integrating Robotaxi services with WeChat and Tencent Maps for enhanced operational efficiency [23] - The company partnered with BlackBerry to develop a highly secure L2-level assisted driving solution, integrating advanced technology for automotive safety [25] Leadership Insights - The CEO emphasized the company's vision of becoming a leader in the autonomous driving industry across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, highlighting the commercial viability of large-scale Robotaxi deployment [27] - The CFO noted the strong momentum at the beginning of 2025, with Uber's investment reflecting confidence in WeRide's technological capabilities and growth potential [27]