May 21, 2025 — WeRide, the self-proclaimed “world’s first Robotaxi unicorn,” unveiled its Q1 2025 earnings with a performance underscoring its accelerating global ambitions. The autonomous driving leader reported revenue of RMB 72.44 million ($10.1 million), marking steady growth, while its industry-leading gross margin held firm at 35%. Notably, Robotaxi revenue surged to 22.3% of total sales at RMB 16.1 million ($2.25 million), as the company deepened ties with Uber through a milestone partnership expansion and a $100 million strategic investment from the ride-hailing giant. In a show of confidence, WeRide’s board authorized a $100 million share buyback program over the next 12 months.
The quarter cemented WeRide’s position as a regulatory pioneer and commercialization trailblazer. Key milestones included securing France’s first fully driverless testing permit in March—making it the only company to hold autonomous licenses across China, UAE, Singapore, France, and the U.S.—and launching Spain’s inaugural public-road autonomous minibus pilot with Renault in Barcelona. Domestically, its logistics arm cleared road testing for Robovan W5 in Guangzhou’s Nansha District, a critical hub for China’s smart city initiatives.
Globalization efforts gained momentum through a five-year pact with Uber to deploy Robotaxis across 15 new cities in Europe and the Middle East. Meanwhile, Guangzhou became the testing ground for WeRide’s most ambitious urban mobility play: an around-the-clock autonomous ride-hailing network spanning eight routes in the megacity’s core.
“Our start to 2025 demonstrates the scalability of our technology and partnerships,” said Li Xuan, WeRide’s CFO and Global Operations Lead. “Uber’s expanded commitment validates our path to unit economics optimization and cross-border replication. As we transform regional proofs-of-concept into global revenue streams, we’re redefining what’s possible in autonomous mobility.”
Analysts highlight WeRide’s dual-track strategy of securing regulatory footholds while monetizing through diversified commercial models—a calculated bet as the autonomous vehicle sector pivots from R&D to real-world monetization. With its licensing edge and Uber’s global platform, the company appears positioned to capitalize on what McKinsey estimates could be a $2 trillion autonomous mobility market by 2040.
Original article, Author: Tobias. If you wish to reprint this article, please indicate the source:https://aicnbc.com/615.html
