Shares of WeRide Inc. (WRD) are having a very good Tuesday, up more than 15%, and it's not hard to see why. The autonomous driving company just flipped the switch on something pretty significant: a fully driverless Robotaxi service in Dubai that actually charges passengers fares. And it's doing it through its partner, Uber Technologies Inc. (UBER).
Think about that for a second. This isn't a test with safety drivers. It's not a free demo ride. This is a commercial, revenue-generating service where the car shows up, you get in, and there's no one in the driver's seat. It's a tangible step from the world of "autonomous vehicle testing" into the world of "autonomous vehicle business."
The timing is interesting, too. Just earlier this week, Uber disclosed in a regulatory filing that it owns roughly 5.82% of WeRide's Class A ordinary shares. That's not a massive, controlling stake, but it's a meaningful vote of confidence—and capital—from a giant in ride-hailing who presumably knows a thing or two about the future of transportation.
The Dubai Details
So, what's actually happening on the ground? WeRide and Uber have launched what they say is part of the first batch of Level 4 Robotaxis to enter commercial service in Dubai. Level 4, for those keeping score at home, means the vehicle can handle all driving tasks under specific conditions without human intervention. The service follows a trial that kicked off in December 2025.
This move is a big deal for Dubai itself, which has an ambitious goal of making 25% of all journeys in the city autonomous by 2030. WeRide is planting a flag as an early leader in that race. The company says it has committed to deploying at least 1,200 Robotaxis across the Middle East—including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Riyadh—with over 200 already running in the region. WeRide was also the first company to get a national license for self-driving vehicles in the UAE, which probably helped smooth the path to this launch.
Global Expansion on Multiple Fronts
Dubai isn't the only place where WeRide is making moves this month. The company also just entered Slovakia through a partnership with an organization called ELEVATE Slovakia, launching that country's first autonomous vehicle program.
That makes Slovakia WeRide's fourth European market, after France, Belgium, and Switzerland. All told, the company says its technology is now operating in more than 40 cities across 12 countries. It's a global footprint that's expanding quickly.
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