Core Insights - WeRide and Grab have received approval from Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) to conduct autonomous vehicle (AV) testing with the Ai.R fleet in the Punggol district [1][7] - The AV testing program commenced in mid-October 2025 and aims to increase the number of test runs by up to four times by the end of the year [2][7] - The Ai.R service will be Singapore's first residential autonomous shuttle service, expected to begin public operations in early 2026 [3][6] Company Overview - WeRide is a global leader in autonomous driving technology, having tested or operated vehicles in over 30 cities across 11 countries, and is the first publicly traded Robotaxi company [11] - Grab operates as a superapp in Southeast Asia, providing services across deliveries, mobility, and digital financial sectors, serving over 800 cities in eight countries [12][15] Testing and Operations - The Ai.R fleet consists of 11 AVs, including 10 GXRs and one Robobus, designed to serve two dedicated shuttle routes in Punggol [3][6] - During testing, AVs gather real-world data to enhance AI driving models, focusing on local road conditions and user behaviors [8] - The AVs are equipped with a sensor suite for 360-degree vision, capable of detecting objects up to 200 meters away, even in adverse weather [9] Safety and Training - Safety Operators will be present on all AVs during testing and initial public rides to ensure real-time supervision [5][10] - GrabAcademy and WeRide are training over 10 experienced Grab driver-partners as Safety Operators, with the first cohort now in on-road training [10][11] Service Connectivity - The autonomous shuttle service will connect residents to key amenities, including the Punggol Coast MRT station and local malls [6]

Market Overview - The global robotaxi market is projected to reach $45.7 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 91.8% from 2023 to 2030, indicating significant growth potential in this sector [1] Uber's Strategy - Uber is focusing on strategic partnerships to establish a strong presence in the robotaxi market, avoiding heavy R&D costs associated with developing autonomous driving systems independently [2][6] - In July, Uber partnered with Baidu to expand in the autonomous delivery and ride-hailing market, planning to deploy Baidu's driverless vehicles on its platform in Asia and the Middle East [3][4] - Uber also entered an agreement with Lucid Group and Nuro to add at least 20,000 self-driving Lucid vehicles equipped with Nuro's technology to its network over the next six years, with Uber investing $300 million into Lucid [5][6] WeRide's Expansion - WeRide is aggressively expanding internationally, with a notable investment from Grab to accelerate the rollout of Level 4 autonomous robotaxis and shuttles in Southeast Asia, expected to be completed by mid-2026 [7] - WeRide plans to introduce its GXR and Robobus autonomous vehicles in Singapore through a collaboration with Grab, marking the first autonomous shuttle deployment in a residential area [8] - WeRide is also expanding in the Middle East through a partnership with Uber, launching autonomous robotaxi services in Riyadh and operating in Abu Dhabi [9][11] Competitive Landscape - Uber's shares have gained over 59% this year, while WeRide's shares have declined in double digits, indicating a disparity in market performance [13] - WeRide appears to be pricier than Uber, with a Value Score of F compared to Uber's D, suggesting a less favorable valuation [16] - Uber's dominant market position and extensive user base provide it with a distinct advantage in scaling autonomous services once technology receives regulatory approval [20][22] Future Outlook - Uber's focus on scalable autonomous deployments in suburban and low-density areas signals strong long-term potential for growth in the transportation sector [21] - While WeRide is recognized as a strong innovator in autonomous technology, Uber's platform-driven strategy and larger scale position it favorably in the robotaxi race [22]

Core Viewpoint - The stock of WeRide (WRD.US) has seen a pre-market increase of over 4.3%, reaching $11.1, following a more than 5% rise last Friday. This surge is attributed to the announcement of the launch of Robotaxi public operations in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in collaboration with Uber and the Saudi Traffic Authority (TGA) [1]. Group 1 - WeRide and Uber have launched Robotaxi public operations in Riyadh, marking the first time autonomous vehicles are available on the Uber app in Saudi Arabia [1]. - This collaboration represents a significant milestone in the deployment of autonomous driving technology in the region [1]. - WeRide's mass-produced Robotaxi model, GXR, has been recognized as the only Level 4 autonomous driving product on the 2025 Fortune China "Best Design" list [1].

Core Insights - China is emerging as a global leader in autonomous driving, with companies testing self-driving cars in diverse environments and launching robotaxi fleets internationally [1][18] Group 1: Pony.ai - Pony.ai is the only company in China offering fully autonomous robotaxis in all four tier-one cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, covering over 2,000 square kilometers and logging over 50 million kilometers globally [3][7] - The company has extended its operating hours for robotaxis to 24/7 in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, with round-the-clock testing in Beijing, and its "virtual driver" system has accumulated over 500,000 hours of autonomous operation [4][6] - Pony.ai is mass-producing its seventh-generation robotaxi in partnership with GAC and BAIC, with over 200 vehicles deployed and a target of 1,000 by year-end [5] - The company is expanding globally, entering the Singapore market and conducting road tests in Europe and South Korea, with plans for commercial services in Dubai by 2026 [6][7] Group 2: Baidu - Baidu's Apollo Go ride-hailing service provided over 2.2 million fully driverless rides in Q2 2025, a 148% increase year-over-year, totaling over 14 million rides by August [8][10] - The company has partnered with Uber and Lyft to deploy thousands of autonomous vehicles across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, starting with Germany and the U.K. [9][12] - Baidu received the first autonomous driving trial permit in Dubai, allowing a fleet of 50 vehicles to operate, with plans to expand to over 1,000 vehicles by 2028 [10][11] Group 3: WeRide - WeRide is rapidly expanding globally, with an investment from Southeast Asia's Grab to accelerate the deployment of Level 4 robotaxis and shuttles [13][14] - The company is launching its GXR and Robobus vehicles in Singapore, marking the city's first autonomous shuttle service in a residential area [14] - WeRide has received robotaxi permits in Saudi Arabia and is piloting services in Dubai, with plans for full-scale operations in 2026 [15][16] - The company is also deploying autonomous shuttle services in various locations worldwide, including Singapore, France, and the U.S., and has approvals in six countries [16][17]

Core Viewpoint - WeRide, a leading autonomous driving technology company, reported strong financial performance for Q2 2025, highlighting significant growth in its Robotaxi business and overall revenue [1][27]. Financial Performance - The company's Q2 revenue reached 127 million yuan, representing a year-on-year increase of 60.8% [4]. - Robotaxi business revenue for Q2 was 45.9 million yuan, showing a substantial year-on-year growth of 836.7% [4]. - The proportion of Robotaxi revenue in total Q2 revenue increased significantly to 36.1%, marking the highest level since 2021 [4]. - Gross profit grew by 40.6% year-on-year, indicating a steady improvement in profitability [4]. Business Expansion - The Robotaxi fleet in Abu Dhabi has tripled in size since 2024, demonstrating significant scalability [8]. - New operational areas include Al Reem Island and Al Maryah Island, covering nearly half of Abu Dhabi's core urban areas, with expected order volume to double [8]. - The Robotaxi fleet is projected to expand to hundreds of vehicles, with plans to extend operations to Khalifa City, Masdar City, and more areas by 2025 [8]. - WeRide has initiated the first pure unmanned Robotaxi road tests in the Middle East [9]. Strategic Partnerships - WeRide signed a cooperation agreement with Uber and the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority to deploy commercial Robotaxi services in Dubai [9]. - The company plans to start trial operations within the year and aims for pure unmanned Robotaxi commercial operations by 2026 [9]. Technological Advancements - WeRide's Robotaxi has received the first autonomous driving license in Saudi Arabia, making it the only technology company with autonomous driving licenses in six countries [12]. - The company launched the first Robotaxi trial operation service in Saudi Arabia, which is currently the only such service in the country [12]. - WeRide partnered with Chery and Jinjiang Taxi to conduct public road passenger-carrying autonomous driving demonstrations in Shanghai [13]. - The company introduced the HPC 3.0 high-performance computing platform, featuring NVIDIA's latest DRIVE AGX Thor X chip, enhancing the performance and cost-effectiveness of its autonomous driving technology [26]. Leadership Insights - The CEO emphasized that the strong Q2 performance marks a critical moment in WeRide's global journey, with rapid growth in the Robotaxi business validating the company's strategic vision [27]. - The CFO highlighted that the robust revenue performance reflects effective execution of growth strategies and the ongoing expansion of operational scale, with the Robotaxi business becoming a key component of the company's financial strength [28].

Core Viewpoint - WeRide has launched a 24-hour autonomous driving service network in Guangzhou, marking a significant milestone in its global deployment strategy for autonomous mobility services [1][10]. Group 1: Service Launch and Coverage - WeRide has opened 8 autonomous driving service routes in Guangzhou, connecting major landmarks and transportation hubs, including the Guangzhou Tower and Baiyun International Airport [2][5]. - The service network covers densely populated areas, showcasing the company's advanced autonomous driving technology and its operational safety, stability, and reliability [2][5]. Group 2: Company Background and Achievements - WeRide is one of the earliest companies to achieve commercial operation of autonomous driving services on open roads, having launched China's first paid autonomous ride-hailing service in 2019 [7]. - The company has maintained a safety record of zero active safety responsibility accidents over more than 2,000 days of public operation [7]. - WeRide's new generation autonomous vehicle, GXR, was approved for "driverless" paid services in Beijing just four months after its launch [7]. Group 3: International Expansion and Partnerships - In September 2024, WeRide partnered with Uber to deploy autonomous driving services in Abu Dhabi, expanding to Dubai in April 2025, and plans to add 15 more cities over the next five years [9]. - This partnership represents a significant step in WeRide's international strategy, aiming to establish a large-scale deployment of autonomous mobility services across Europe and the Middle East [9]. Group 4: User Experience and Accessibility - Users can book rides through the "WeRide Mobility" app, with services available from 0:00 to 23:59, allowing for next-day reservations after 18:00 [12][13]. - The service includes direct connections between key locations such as Guangzhou Tower and South Station, as well as airport transfers, enhancing convenience for users [13].