Core Viewpoint - Company WeRide, a leader in L4 autonomous driving, is set to go public in Hong Kong, aiming to leverage its market position and attract significant investment amid a favorable IPO environment [1][2][3]. Group 1: Company Overview - WeRide operates one of the largest L4 autonomous driving fleets globally, with over 1,500 vehicles, including more than 700 Robotaxis, across 11 countries and over 30 cities [1][6]. - The company holds a 21.8% market share in the L4 autonomous driving revenue generated from urban roads as of 2024 [1][12]. - WeRide has received substantial investment commitments from industry giants like Uber, which pledged an additional $100 million [2]. Group 2: Financial Performance - In Q2, WeRide reported revenue of 127 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 60.8%, with Robotaxi revenue soaring by 836.7% to 45.9 million yuan [7]. - The company’s Robotaxi revenue share increased from 8.9% to 31.1% year-on-year, contributing to a total revenue growth of 25.9% to 199.6 million yuan in the first half of 2025 [7]. Group 3: Market Position and Growth Potential - The global L4 and above autonomous driving market is projected to grow from $1 billion in 2024 to $1,464 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 238% [11]. - WeRide has established a strong presence in key markets, including the Middle East and Europe, where it is the only company to deploy L4 fleets [11]. - The company has a robust cash position, holding 3.836 billion yuan in cash and cash equivalents as of June 2025, which supports its growth strategy [8]. Group 4: Research and Development - WeRide has invested heavily in R&D, with total expenditures reaching 3.553 billion yuan from 2022 to mid-2025, resulting in 594 authorized patents in China [9]. - The company’s proprietary WeRide One platform modularizes core software and hardware, facilitating the commercialization of its products across various autonomous driving scenarios [9][10]. Group 5: Competitive Advantage - WeRide has maintained a leading position in safety and reliability, with no regulatory penalties since launching its L4 products in 2019 [10]. - The company’s MPI (miles per intervention) metric has consistently ranked first among commercial autonomous driving firms from 2022 to 2024 [10]. Group 6: Valuation and Market Sentiment - As of October 24, WeRide's market capitalization was $3.491 billion, with a price-to-book (PB) ratio of approximately 3.8, significantly lower than its peers [17]. - If WeRide captures just 5% of the projected $431 billion Robotaxi market by 2030, its revenue could reach $21.55 billion, indicating substantial upside potential for its valuation [17].

Core Viewpoint - The Hong Kong IPO market is experiencing a simultaneous surge in both listings and offerings, with multiple companies going public and others initiating their IPO processes on the same day [2]. Company Overview - WeRide, established in 2017, focuses on L4 autonomous driving technology and has deployed over 1,500 autonomous vehicles globally as of October 20, 2023, covering over 30 cities in 11 countries [3]. - The company ranks second in the global market for L4 and above autonomous driving business revenue, holding a market share of 21.8% [3]. IPO Details - WeRide plans to globally offer 88.25 million shares, with an expected net fundraising of approximately HKD 2.932 billion, using the funds primarily for R&D, commercialization of L4 autonomous vehicle fleets, marketing team establishment, and general corporate purposes [2]. - The Hong Kong public offering period for WeRide is from October 28 to November 3, 2023, with shares expected to start trading on November 6, 2023 [2]. Financial Performance - WeRide's revenue has declined from RMB 528 million in 2022 to RMB 361 million in 2024, but it saw a 32.8% year-on-year increase in revenue to approximately RMB 200 million in the first half of 2025 [4]. - The company's losses have widened from RMB 1.298 billion in 2022 to RMB 2.517 billion in 2024, with a loss of RMB 792 million in the first half of 2025, showing a slight improvement compared to the same period in 2024 [4].