China’s WeRide wants to build global robotaxi empire
In China, WeRide has enjoyed a wave of government support for the budding industry, but is also grappling with increasingly stiff competition. It claims to be the only company in the world that has obtained autonomous driving permits in four countries, including China, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and the U.S. That would seem to bode well for the firm’s ability to put down roots outside its home market, but as Chinese technology comes under increasing scrutiny from the West over national security concerns, it remains to be seen if WeRide can replicate its success in more politically-tense environments. The Chinese firm is teaming up with Switzerland’s national railway operator in a program that will see cars outfitted with WeRide’s technology on the roads of Switzerland’s Furttal valley region. As tech companies vie for a slice of the pie, WeRide has sought to distinguish itself from rivals like U.S.-listed Pony AI and artificial-intelligence heavyweight Baidu’s Apollo Go unit by expanding its focus beyond robotaxis. Han said that WeRide’s competitive advantage lies in its core technology, which is designed to be deployed across a range of products.
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