January 16, 2026
Finance

WeRide Expands Global Autonomous Taxi Fleet with Over 1,000 Vehicles and Driverless Services in Multiple Cities

Chinese robotaxi operator grows fleet drastically, integrating with WeChat and partnering for Dubai service amid rising competition from Waymo and Tesla

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Summary

WeRide Inc., a Chinese autonomous vehicle company, has announced that its global robotaxi fleet now exceeds 1,000 vehicles, marking a significant milestone as it achieves driverless operations in Beijing, Guangzhou, and Abu Dhabi. The firm is integrating its services with China's dominant WeChat platform and collaborating with partners in Dubai to expand service access. Meanwhile, competitors Waymo and Tesla continue their autonomous vehicle developments, with varied progress. WeRide aims to scale to tens of thousands of robotaxis by 2030, positioning itself as a key player in the emerging global autonomous mobility market.

Key Points

WeRide's global robotaxi fleet has surpassed 1,000 vehicles, currently standing at 1,023 units.
Driverless robotaxi services are operational in Beijing, Guangzhou, and Abu Dhabi, marking significant geographic expansion.
Integration with WeChat enables over a billion users in China to book autonomous rides via the WeRide Go platform.
Collaborations with Uber and Dubai’s RTA facilitate robotaxi services in Dubai through the Uber app, broadening market access.

WeRide Inc. (NASDAQ:WRD), a prominent autonomous vehicle operator based in China, has publicly shared that its robotaxi fleet has grown beyond 1,000 vehicles worldwide. The announcement was made via the social media network X, where the company confirmed that it currently manages 1,023 robotaxis globally.

This milestone also coincides with WeRide achieving driverless operations in three major urban regions: Beijing and Guangzhou in China, as well as Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. These developments underscore WeRide's expanding operational presence across diverse international markets.

To enhance user accessibility, WeRide recently revealed plans to integrate its ride-booking system with WeChat, the dominant super-app in China owned by Tencent Holdings Ltd. (OTC:TCEHY), which boasts a user base exceeding one billion individuals. This integration, branded as 'WeRide Go,' will allow WeChat users in Guangzhou and Beijing to conveniently hail autonomous taxis directly through the app, streamlining the customer experience and potentially bolstering market penetration within these areas.

Further expanding its global reach, WeRide is collaborating with Uber Technologies Inc. (NYSE:UBER) and Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to offer robotaxi services in Dubai through the Uber application. This partnership represents a strategic move to integrate WeRide's autonomous vehicles within existing ride-hailing platforms, facilitating broader consumer adoption and operational scalability in international markets.

In parallel developments within the autonomous mobility sector, Waymo, the Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL, NASDAQ:GOOG) subsidiary, introduced its latest robotaxi model named 'Ojai' at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026. Manufactured in partnership with Chinese automaker Zeekr, the Ojai robotaxi sports a minivan-like design equipped with an advanced sensor suite comprising three cameras, six radar sensors, and four LiDAR units. As of November 2025, Waymo's worldwide robotaxi fleet encompasses over 2,500 vehicles. The company is also pursuing a funding round aimed at raising more than $10 billion at a valuation near $100 billion. Additionally, Waymo is planning geographic expansion into London within the current year, underlining its global ambitions.

On the other hand, Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) has experienced setbacks in its robotaxi efforts, notably missing CEO Elon Musk’s target of launching driverless robotaxi service by the end of 2025 in Austin, Texas. Despite this, certain investors, including Dan Ives, maintain a positive outlook for Tesla’s long-term positioning within the robotaxi industry. Ives has projected that Tesla could ultimately capture up to 80% of the robotaxi market, reflecting sustained confidence in the company’s technological capabilities and market strategy.

WeRide's recent fleet growth and operational milestones represent important progress toward its long-term vision of deploying “tens of thousands” of robotaxis globally by the year 2030. This vision positions the company as a formidable competitor in the increasingly crowded and rapidly evolving autonomous vehicle market segment.

Risks
  • Competition is intensifying, evidenced by Waymo’s larger fleet and ongoing technology investments, which may challenge WeRide's market share.
  • Tesla's delays in initiating driverless robotaxi operations indicate execution risks in an industry characterized by high technological and regulatory hurdles.
  • The success of WeRide's WeChat integration and Dubai partnership depends on user adoption and partnership dynamics, which may introduce operational uncertainties.
  • Expansion plans targeting tens of thousands of robotaxis by 2030 face potential scalability, regulatory, and infrastructural challenges inherent in autonomous vehicle deployment.
Disclosure
Education only / not financial advice
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