WeRide Stock Gains Pre-Market On Green Light For Driverless Robotaxis Abroad

• WeRide said that the permit, granted on October 31, authorizes its Robotaxis to operate commercially without an on-board safety driver. 
• The company said that the current approval supports WeRide's broader plan to expand its Middle East fleet to 1,000 Robotaxis by 2026.
• WeRide stated that it has been operating Robotaxis with TXAI in Abu Dhabi since 2021. In December 2024, the company and Uber launched their Robotaxi ride-hailing partnership in Abu Dhabi.

WeRide’s (WRD) U.S.-listed shares jumped nearly 6% in premarket trading on Monday after the company got granted a permit to conduct fully driverless Robotaxi commercial operations outside the United States.

The company said that this makes it the first company to receive a city-level commercial permit for Level 4 autonomous driving issued outside the U.S. and the first international company to achieve this in the UAE.

WeRide said that the permit, granted on October 31, authorizes its Robotaxis to operate commercially without an on-board safety driver. Commercial operations will start on the Uber and TXAI platforms in Abu Dhabi, the company added.

UAE Approval

The company stated that in July 2023, it was granted the UAE's first national license for all types of self-driving vehicles, authorizing autonomous testing and operation on public roads nationwide, subject to emirate-level approvals.

WeRide said it has been operating Robotaxis with TXAI in Abu Dhabi since 2021, and in December 2024, the company and Uber launched their Robotaxi ride-hailing partnership in Abu Dhabi, the largest commercial Robotaxi service outside the U.S. and China.

The company added that the partnership expanded in July 2025 to cover about half of Abu Dhabi's core areas, including Al Reem and Al Maryah. WeRide said it plans to extend services to cover most of Abu Dhabi city's core by the end of 2025.

The company said that the current approval supports WeRide's broader plan to expand its Middle East fleet to 1,000 Robotaxis by 2026.

What Is Retail Thinking?

Retail sentiment on WeRide remained unchanged in the ‘bearish’ territory, with message volumes at ‘low’ levels, according to data from Stocktwits.

Shares of WeRide have declined by more than 60% over the last 12 months. 

For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.

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