WeRide Inc. (NASDAQ: WRD) saw its stock surge 5.99% in after-hours trading on Monday, following the announcement of an expanded strategic partnership with Uber Technologies Inc. The collaboration aims to bring autonomous vehicles to 15 additional cities globally over the next five years, including locations in Europe.

This significant expansion of WeRide's autonomous vehicle deployment represents a major step forward for the company's growth strategy. The partnership intends to increase the number of WeRide's Robotaxis on the Uber platform to 50 by mid-2025, marking the first time autonomous vehicles will be available on Uber outside the United States.

The move aligns with WeRide's recent successes in the autonomous driving sector, including its partnership with Dubai's Road and Transport Authority and obtaining the UAE's first national license for self-driving vehicles on public roads in 2023. This latest development with Uber further solidifies WeRide's position as a leading player in the global autonomous mobility market.

Investors seem to be responding positively to the news, recognizing the potential for significant revenue growth and market expansion that this partnership brings to WeRide. As the autonomous vehicle industry continues to evolve, strategic collaborations like this one could prove crucial in determining the market leaders in this competitive and rapidly advancing sector.