Core Insights - The article discusses the evolution of autonomous driving, highlighting the progress made by WeRide, which is now a publicly listed company in both the US and Hong Kong, recognized as the "first Robotaxi stock" [3] - The CEO, Han Xu, emphasizes the importance of focusing on talent acquisition and international expansion, indicating a shift from proving the viability of autonomous driving to scaling operations [6][9] - Han Xu asserts that only three companies in China can truly operate Level 4 (L4) autonomous vehicles without a safety driver, indicating a significant technological barrier in the industry [7][28] Group 1 - WeRide has deployed over 1,600 autonomous vehicles globally, with more than 750 being Robotaxis, marking a growth of at least 30% since its IPO [9][10] - The company has recognized the international demand for Robotaxis, being the first to deploy in 11 countries and 30 cities, and has obtained eight different autonomous driving licenses [12][13] - Han Xu reflects on the past challenges of securing funding and the skepticism surrounding autonomous driving, contrasting it with the current landscape where the technology is being implemented at scale [14][16][18] Group 2 - The article highlights the distinction between L2 and L4 autonomous driving, with Han Xu stating that the barriers between these levels have not been broken, and many companies claiming to be L4 are actually "pseudo-Robotaxi" firms [24][29] - Han Xu sets two criteria for a company to be considered a true L4 operator: having a fleet of at least 20-30 vehicles operating without a safety driver for six months, and achieving pure unmanned commercial operations [25][27] - The article discusses the competitive landscape, with Han Xu predicting that if Tesla continues to use L2 vehicles without advanced sensors, it will not reach the operational level of Waymo in three years [33][34] Group 3 - WeRide is also advancing in the L2+ space, having launched a one-step end-to-end solution that is ready for mass production, indicating a dual focus on both L2 and L4 technologies [22][40] - The company collaborates with Bosch to enhance high-level intelligent driving solutions, showcasing its capability in both L4 and L2 technology stacks [37][40] - The article concludes with Han Xu's insights on the increasing salaries for AI talent, reflecting the growing demand and competition in the field, with top salaries reaching up to 5 million [54]