WeRide intends to at least double its active robotaxi units from just over 1,000 in January to between 2,000 and 3,000 vehicles by the end of this year, positioning itself for further scale toward a multi-tens-of-thousands target by 2030. The company has also partnered with Uber to launch the first commercial robotaxi service in downtown Abu Dhabi, marking its initial international entry.

The in-house Genesis AI testing platform simulates complex driving conditions—such as heavy traffic, nighttime scenarios and extreme weather—to train autonomous systems more efficiently. This approach has lowered WeRide’s data collection and training expenses by 75%, enabling quicker deployment of software updates and reducing per-vehicle operating costs.

Despite AI-driven cost efficiencies, WeRide projects a modest increase in R&D expenditure in 2026 to support ongoing fleet expansion and software enhancements. CEO Tony Han emphasizes that the firm will prioritize technological development even as it moves closer to a path toward operational profitability.

WeRide competes with domestic peers like Pony AI and Baidu’s Apollo Go as well as U.S. rival Waymo, each leveraging AI to scale robotaxi operations. Strategic alliances, such as the Abu Dhabi launch with Uber, are central to WeRide’s effort to establish a global footprint and differentiate its service offering.