WeRide Inc.(US:WRD) Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-10-20 13:32Core Viewpoint - WeRide Inc. (文远知行) has successfully passed the hearing for its listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) just five days after receiving approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), marking a rapid progression in its IPO process [1][3]. Group 1: Company Overview - WeRide Inc. was established in 2017 and is a global pioneer in the L4 autonomous driving sector, with its products and solutions deployed in over 30 cities across 11 countries, including China, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, France, Singapore, Japan, and more [3][4]. - The company holds the distinction of being the only tech firm with autonomous driving licenses in seven countries, operating a fleet of over 1,500 autonomous vehicles, including more than 700 autonomous taxis [3][4]. Group 2: Market Position - As of 2024, WeRide Inc. ranks second globally in revenue generated from L4 and above autonomous driving on urban roads, capturing a market share of 21.8% [3][4]. Group 3: Financial Performance - WeRide's revenue has been on a decline, with figures of 527 million RMB in 2022, 402 million RMB in 2023, and projected 361 million RMB in 2024, marking a continuous decrease over the past two years [4][5]. - The revenue from L4 technology accounted for 71.5% in 2022, 43.6% in 2023, and is expected to be 60.1% in 2024, primarily due to a drop in service revenue from 348 million RMB in 2023 to 273 million RMB in 2024 [4][5]. - The company has not achieved profitability since its inception, with cumulative losses reaching 6.557 billion RMB over three and a half years, and a projected loss of 792 million RMB for the first half of 2025 [6][7]. Group 4: Investment and Market Sentiment - WeRide has attracted significant investment from notable firms such as NVIDIA, Yutong Group, Qiming Venture Partners, GAC Group, and others, including a recent commitment of 100 million USD from Uber [7][8]. - Following its NASDAQ listing, WeRide's stock price initially rose but later fell below the issue price, reflecting volatility in market sentiment, with a peak of 44 USD per share earlier this year [8][10]. Group 5: Competitive Landscape - WeRide is competing with Pony AI Inc. (小马智行), another L4 autonomous driving company, which has a market valuation significantly higher than WeRide's [8][10]. - The upcoming listing on HKEX is seen as a critical opportunity for WeRide to bolster its financial position, but the company must demonstrate its ability to convert autonomous driving technology into sustainable revenue and profit [10].