WeRide Inc. (WRD) saw its stock surge 5.02% in pre-market trading on Friday, following a series of significant announcements that signal major progress in the company's autonomous vehicle strategy. The autonomous driving technology company has launched fully driverless Robotaxi trial operations in Abu Dhabi, expanded its partnership with Uber for a global Robotaxi rollout, and initiated 24/7 autonomous ride-hailing operations in China.

WeRide announced that beginning this quarter, a fleet of its Robotaxis will be operating on public roads in Abu Dhabi without safety drivers, marking the first such trial in the Middle East. The company also plans to expand its service coverage to two new districts in the UAE capital, with commercial autonomous vehicle rides expected to be introduced in summer 2025, subject to regulatory approval.

Adding to the positive momentum, WeRide has expanded its collaboration with Uber, initially announced in September 2024. The partnership has already resulted in the deployment of the largest public commercial Robotaxi fleet outside the US and China in Abu Dhabi. WeRide and Uber now plan to launch Robotaxi fleets in 15 additional cities over the next five years, including key markets in Europe, significantly advancing WeRide's global Robotaxi commercialization strategy. Furthermore, WeRide has launched eight autonomous 24/7 Robotaxi pilot operation routes in central Guangzhou, China, introducing the country's first round-the-clock autonomous ride-hailing network in a tier 1 city.