WeRide Inc. (WRD) shares continued their impressive rally, soaring 10.75% in pre-market trading on Wednesday. This surge follows an extraordinary 31.7% gain on Tuesday, as investors remain bullish on the company's expanding partnership with Uber and news of additional investment.

The sustained enthusiasm stems from WeRide's recent announcement of a significant expansion of its strategic collaboration with Uber. Initially launched in Abu Dhabi and set to commence in Dubai, the partnership will now extend to 15 additional cities globally over the next five years. This move marks a substantial push into European markets, significantly broadening WeRide's potential customer base and revenue streams in the autonomous vehicle sector.

Adding fuel to the rally, sources familiar with the matter revealed that Uber has committed to an additional $100 million equity investment in WeRide, on top of its existing stake. This investment, expected to close in the coming months, represents Uber's largest commitment to the autonomous driving sector to date. The news reportedly caused WeRide shares to jump another 16% in overnight trading, contributing to the pre-market surge.

Market analysts view this expansion and investment as major catalysts for WeRide's growth prospects in the rapidly evolving autonomous vehicle market. The company's ability to secure both an expanded partnership and significant financial backing from a global ride-hailing leader like Uber is seen as a strong vote of confidence in WeRide's technology and operational capabilities. As the autonomous vehicle market continues to mature, WeRide's strengthened position could lead to further gains, though investors should remain mindful of the inherent volatility in this emerging tech sector.