Here's a story about a company trying to build the future while its stock price lives in the present. WeRide Inc. (WRD) announced on Sunday that it's expanding its partnership with Geely's Zhejiang Farizon New Energy Commercial Vehicle Group. The plan? To deliver 2,000 upgraded, purpose-built Robotaxi GXR vehicles by 2026. Think of it as a turbocharged push for large-scale global robotaxi commercialization.

The companies even showed off the new model at a signing ceremony. If all goes to schedule, these vehicles will start rolling off the production line in the third quarter of 2026.

Now, here's where the scale gets real. As of January 2026, WeRide's global robotaxi fleet totaled 1,023 vehicles. Adding these 2,000 new GXRs would push its global operating fleet to over 2,600 robotaxis this year. That's a serious ramp-up and a tangible move toward the company's much longer-term, almost sci-fi-sounding goal of deploying tens of thousands of vehicles by 2030.

The Stock Market's Take: A Different Story

While the company talks about rolling out thousands of self-driving cars, the stock market has been rolling in the opposite direction. Over the past 12 months, WeRide's stock is down a brutal 60.21%. Trading at $6.39, it's a long way from its 52-week high of $20.50.

From a technical perspective, the picture is bearish. The stock is trading below all its key moving averages—12.6% below the 20-day simple moving average and a full 30% below the 200-day SMA. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is sitting at 31.91, which is flirting with oversold territory. That sometimes hints at a potential bounce, but it can also just mean continued weakness. The MACD indicator is bearish too, with the histogram at -5 cents, suggesting downward momentum is still in play.

Earnings on the Horizon and What the Pros Think

WeRide is scheduled to report earnings on March 23, 2026. With that date coming up, here's what analysts are expecting:

• EPS Estimate: A loss of 25 cents per share. That's actually an improvement year-over-year, as the company lost 33 cents per share in the comparable period last year.
• Revenue Estimate: $22.5 million, up from $19.29 million a year ago.

Despite the stock's terrible chart, the analyst community hasn't thrown in the towel. The consensus rating is a Buy, with an average price target of $17.08—that's more than 2.5 times the current stock price. Recent initiations include Bank of America Securities starting coverage with a Buy rating and a $12 target in December 2025, and Citigroup initiating with a Buy and a $15.50 target back in September 2025.

Market Positioning and ETF Ties

A look at broader market metrics shows WeRide is struggling for momentum. Its score in this area is weak, indicating the stock is significantly underperforming the broader market. The signal here suggests a challenging market position, and that investors should be cautious, watching for either a turnaround or further decline.

It's also important to know where WeRide sits in the fund world. The stock is a 4.83% weight in the Roundhill Robotaxi, Autonomous Vehicles & Technology ETF (CABZ). This is significant because it creates a mechanical link: any big inflows or outflows for that ETF will force automatic buying or selling of WeRide shares, regardless of the company's specific news.

As for the immediate reaction to this partnership news? WeRide shares were down 0.78% at $6.32 in premarket trading on Monday, according to market data.

So, there you have it. WeRide is making big, concrete plans to fill streets with robotaxis, aiming for a fleet in the thousands. Meanwhile, its stock price is telling a story of deep skepticism and harsh reality. Which narrative wins out is the multi-billion dollar question for investors.