WeRide Inc. (WRD) stock is soaring 12.41% in Wednesday's trading session, building on its pre-market gains following two major announcements that signal significant progress in the company's autonomous vehicle strategy. The surge comes as WeRide expands its partnership with Uber for a global Robotaxi rollout and launches 24/7 autonomous ride-hailing operations in China.

The expanded collaboration with Uber, initially announced in September 2024, is set to accelerate WeRide's international expansion in the autonomous vehicle market. The partnership has already yielded impressive results, with the successful deployment of the largest public commercial Robotaxi fleet outside the US and China in Abu Dhabi by December 2024. WeRide and Uber have now unveiled ambitious plans to launch Robotaxi fleets in 15 additional cities over the next five years, including key markets in Europe. This expansion is expected to significantly advance WeRide's global Robotaxi commercialization strategy, potentially opening up new revenue streams and market opportunities for the company.

Adding to the positive momentum, WeRide announced the launch of eight autonomous 24/7 Robotaxi pilot operation routes in central Guangzhou, China. This marks the introduction of the country's first round-the-clock autonomous ride-hailing network covering the core areas of a tier 1 city. The move is seen as a crucial step towards the mass commercialization of WeRide's Robotaxi services in its home market. These developments have clearly resonated with investors, driving the stock's substantial rise as the market anticipates accelerated growth and increased market penetration for WeRide in the rapidly evolving autonomous vehicle industry.