As of the end of October, WeRide operates around 750 Robotaxis and plans to expand its fleet to 2,000–3,000 units by the end of 2026.
Nikkei Asia reported on November 26 that WeRide founder and CEO Tony Han said the company is prioritizing expansion across the Middle East, Europe and developed Asian markets.
Although WeRide has yet to enter the U.S., he remains upbeat about international growth opportunities.
WeRide is currently operating autonomous buses in multiple Japanese cities, while reserving capacity to scale Robotaxi services depending on market demand.
The company has secured road-testing approvals for autonomous vehicles in eight countries, though some regions currently allow only autonomous buses.
As of October 31, WeRide operates about 750 Robotaxis, behind domestic rivals Pony.ai with 961 units and Baidu’s Apollo Go with more than 1,000 units.
Han said fleet size is not the company’s top priority at this stage, adding that WeRide plans to expand its operating fleet to 2,000–3,000 vehicles by the end of 2026.
He noted that the bike-sharing industry once pursued rapid, aggressive deployment to grab market share, yet only companies with sustainable business models and a path to profitability survived. “For us, the key is achieving profitability while maintaining absolute safety,” he said.
Competition in China’s Robotaxi sector is intensifying. Xpeng announced this month a global ecosystem partnership with Amap and plans to launch three Robotaxi models and begin pilot operations in 2026.
Ride-hailing platforms including Didi, CaoCao Mobility and T3 are also pushing autonomous commercial deployments.
Regarding the growing number of new entrants, Han argued that near-term competitive pressure remains limited, given that technology development, road testing, trial operations and licensing typically take years.
Han disclosed that the company is close to reaching break-even. Investors have not imposed pressure, operating expenses are growing at a steady pace, and revenue is rising rapidly, giving confidence that the two curves will soon converge.
According to WeRide’s third-quarter earnings released Monday, the company reported revenue of RMB 171 million ($23.94 million), up 144.3% year-on-year; Robotaxi revenue reached RMB 35.3 million ($4.94 million), up 761.0%; and net loss narrowed to RMB 307 million ($43.0 million), down 70.5% year-on-year.
Following the results, WeRide’s U.S.-listed shares closed up 14.72% on Monday, before falling 4.12% on Tuesday.
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