Uber Technologies Inc. has announced a significant increase in its investment in WeRide, committing an additional $100 million to expand their commercial robotaxi service. This unique partnership aims to grow their operations into 15 more cities within the next five years. The emphasis near-term will be on places beyond China and the U.S.
The expansion comes on the heels of a successful launch of their commercial robotaxi service in Abu Dhabi only five months prior. Uber and WeRide are already working together in Abu Dhabi. They are now preparing to enter their service of Dubai, as part of a much-bigger strategy. Although the two companies are still staunch rivals, they are both eager to poach new cities and grow throughout Europe. Such a move will immeasurably increase their world-wide influence.
WeRide expects to close the investment in the second half of 2025. The funding will help accelerate the development and deployment of safe autonomous vehicles. This will lead to more affordable, lower-cost mobility options in our communities. This announcement further demonstrates Uber’s dedication to using key partnerships as a tool to push their AV initiatives.
Which is perhaps why Uber is working so aggressively to partner with companies on the space—including competitors. In addition to the work with WeRide, they’ve worked with May Mobility and Volkswagen. In the country where Uber launched, the rideshare giant’s most high-profile partnership is still with Waymo, the company credited for pushing self-driving technology furthest along the development path.
In Abu Dhabi, Uber partners with local company Tawasul Transport to operate the fleet for their robotaxi service. This new partnership model underscores Uber’s plan to operate in partnership with local establishments to make their entry into various markets less contentious and disruptive.
Meanwhile, self-driving startup WeRide debuted publicly on the Nasdaq in late October. This milestone represents a significant leap for them as they continue to push toward broader deployment and greater capacity in the quickly evolving AV space. The recently announced partnership with Uber is likely to cement its role as a leader in this highly competitive, nascent industry.
Heralded by the upcoming expansion into 15 additional cities, the demand for autonomous transportation solutions is apparent. Both companies have a shared vision to improve mobility in city environments. Uber, WeRide, and the rest are prepared to usher in a new era of transportation. They’ll be democratizing advanced technology, getting it into the hands of more passengers around the world.
