Major companies crackdown on Robotaxi, can WeRide maintain its "first-mover advantage"?

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(Source: Netease Technology)

Since 2025, when Robotaxi entered its first year of large-scale operations, the capital market’s evaluation criteria for autonomous driving companies have shifted from merely “technological competition” to the actual results of “commercialization.”

As one of the leading players in China’s Robotaxi sector, WeRide has taken the lead in showcasing its achievements.

In 2025, WeRide’s revenue reached 690 million yuan, a significant year-on-year increase of 90%. The revenue for the fourth quarter was 314 million yuan, up 123% year-on-year; during the same period, the net loss was 1.66 billion yuan, narrowing by over 30% year-on-year.

The strong growth in performance is primarily driven by the accelerated rollout of the Robotaxi business.

In 2025, WeRide’s revenue from Robotaxi-related products and services reached 148 million yuan, a substantial year-on-year increase of 209.6%.

By the end of 2025, WeRide’s global Robotaxi fleet reached 1,125 vehicles, setting a new historical high.

However, as the Robotaxi business model gradually becomes established, the competition in the sector is becoming increasingly crowded.

Previously, the participants in the domestic Robotaxi sector were mainly concentrated among three autonomous driving tech companies: Loong Bo, Pony.ai, and WeRide. However, since 2025, ride-hailing platforms like Didi, Cao Cao Mobility, Hello, and AutoNavi, along with OEMs like XPeng, have entered the fray, raising concerns about future competitive pressures facing WeRide.

In response, WeRide’s management stated during a conference call on March 23, “The autonomous taxi business from L2 to L4 levels needs to obtain safety operation qualifications and undergo continuous capability verification. This includes hardware maturity, system architecture, and approvals from regulatory agencies. These are all hurdles that competitors must overcome one by one. In this regard, we have accumulated rich experience and have significant advantages in the L4 level autonomous taxi business. We welcome competitors to join this fiercely competitive market.”

According to plans, WeRide expects to expand its global Robotaxi fleet to 2,600 vehicles by the end of 2026, aiming for tens of thousands globally by 2030.

In this process, overseas markets have become a key engine supporting WeRide’s plans.

Currently, WeRide is accelerating its global penetration through deep cooperation with Uber. According to management during the conference call, it is expected that by 2027, the cooperative fleet on the platform could reach thousands of vehicles.

Currently, WeRide is primarily advancing Robotaxi operations in overseas markets through its partnership with Uber.

According to WeRide’s management during the conference call, it is expected that the cooperation with Uber could achieve a scale of thousands of vehicles by 2027.

Additionally, regarding the much-anticipated Middle Eastern market, management stated that all business operations are progressing steadily.

“We have obtained a city-level license in Abu Dhabi and will launch operations in Dubai this year. In these two important cities in the Middle East, we have secured permits, which is a great starting point,” WeRide noted. “From a regulatory perspective, a good safety record and relationships with partners will also facilitate our faster expansion. Currently, we are closely monitoring business development and expansion, working closely with local and overseas teams to continuously scale up our fleet. So far, there have been no material shortages affecting our business progress; everything remains under our control.”

The rapid growth in revenue and the substantial narrowing of losses have provided WeRide with more “resources” in the heavy asset, long-cycle autonomous driving sector.

However, it is undeniable that as mobility giants and new car manufacturers enter the market, competition in the domestic market is intensifying.

The second half of autonomous driving has just begun, and the true commercialization ranking competition has only just started.

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