Waymo's Chinese Rival WeRide Aims To Double Its Robotaxi Fleet This Year, CEO Says
Chinese robotaxi operator WeRide (NASDAQ:WRD) aims to at least double its fleet this year, leveraging artificial intelligence to cut costs and move closer to profitability, Chief Executive Officer Tony Han told the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday.
The Guangzhou-based company has reduced data collection and training expenses by 75% with an AI-powered testing platform developed in-house, according to Han. The move positions WeRide alongside global rivals using AI to improve autonomous driving efficiency and safety.
AI Platform Accelerates Robotaxi Development
WeRide's AI simulator, known as Genesis, trains its autonomous vehicles to navigate real-world scenarios such as heavy traffic, nighttime driving, and extreme weather. The simulations help the vehicles respond safely to rare or unexpected situations, Han told WSJ.
AI testing captures conditions that are hard to replicate in real life, and it's a lot cheaper, according to Han.
Factoring in AI-driven efficiencies, WeRide plans to expand its global fleet to 2,000–3,000 vehicles by year-end, up from over 1,000 units as of January, according to the report. The company's long-term goal is to operate tens of thousands of robotaxis by 2030, mirroring industry-wide ambitions.
Industry Competition Intensifies
WeRide, along with fellow Chinese robotaxi makers Pony AI and Baidu's Apollo Go, are competing fiercely at home and abroad, including against U.S. rival Waymo. Earlier this month, Waymo unveiled a generative AI model to help scale operations safely and announced a $16 billion investment round.
Despite AI cost savings, WeRide expects research-and-development spending to rise slightly in 2026 to support fleet expansion and technology advancement. Han emphasized to WSJ that the company will not compromise R&D for quicker profitability.
Price Action: WeRide shares were up 3.31% at $7.80 during premarket trading on Thursday, although the stock is down over 19% so far this year, according to data from Benzinga Pro. The company and Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) on Thursday announced the launch of Abu Dhabi’s first commercial robotaxi service in the city center.
Image via Shutterstock
Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.
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