Qiming Venture Partners' WeRide Sends First Robotaxi GXR Fleet to Singapore for Testing
WeRide, a global leader in Robotaxi commercialization, has deployed, tested, and operated in four countries — China, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Switzerland — achieving a safety record of over 2,200 consecutive days.
Recently, Qiming Venture Partners portfolio company WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD) announced that its first batch of Robotaxi GXR vehicles has arrived in Singapore and begun testing — marking the first deployment of this autonomous driving model in Southeast Asia.
The Robotaxi GXR fleet is currently undergoing simulated road tests at the Nanyang Technological University's Centre of Excellence for Testing and Research of Autonomous Vehicles (CETRAN), evaluating vehicle performance and safety under Singapore's public road conditions to prepare for M1 certification. Once approved, the vehicles are expected to deploy on designated public roads by the end of 2025, operated through a partnership between WeRide and a leading regional mobility service provider, laying groundwork for future large-scale commercialization. Each Robotaxi GXR can accommodate up to five passengers.
"The arrival of our Robotaxi GXR in Singapore paves the way for introducing more autonomous driving services in the region," said Tony Han, WeRide's founder and CEO. "Building on WeRide's leading technical capabilities and the massive real-world data we've accumulated in comparable urban environments globally, we have optimized deployment for Singapore's road conditions. Safety has always been WeRide's top priority. Through rigorous testing protocols and deep collaboration with industry partners, we are establishing a solid foundation for the commercialization of autonomous driving services in Southeast Asia."
WeRide Robotaxi GXR undergoing simulated road tests
WeRide plans to bring additional Robotaxi GXR vehicles to Singapore to accelerate deployment on public roads and advance large-scale commercial Robotaxi operations across Southeast Asia, providing local communities with safe, efficient, and convenient autonomous mobility services.
As a global leader in Robotaxi commercialization, WeRide has deployed, tested, and operated in four countries — China, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Switzerland — achieving more than 2,200 days of safe operations. The company has already launched fully unmanned Robotaxi testing in Abu Dhabi and expects to open this service to the public in the coming months. In July, WeRide also began Robotaxi trial operations in Riyadh in partnership with Uber and AiDriver.
WeRide Robotaxi GXR at NTU's Centre of Excellence for Testing and Research of Autonomous Vehicles
WeRide continues to lead autonomous driving innovation in Singapore. In July, the company launched a fully unmanned Robobus service at Resorts World Sentosa — the first autonomous vehicle in Southeast Asia to operate without a safety driver on board. In November 2024, WeRide deployed Robosweeper S6 and S1 vehicles along Marina Boulevard and at the Esplanade, marking Singapore's first commercial autonomous sanitation project.
WeRide Robosweeper S1 at Marina Bay
Looking ahead, WeRide will continue collaborating with stakeholders across Southeast Asia to support subsequent vehicle deployments and explore broader regional expansion opportunities.
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Founded in 2006, Qiming Venture Partners currently manages 11 USD funds and 7 RMB funds, with total assets under management reaching $9.5 billion. Since its inception, the firm has focused on investing in early and growth-stage outstanding companies in Technology and Healthcare innovation.
To date, Qiming Venture Partners has invested in over 580 high-growth innovative companies, with more than 210 exiting through listings on the NYSE, NASDAQ, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, Shanghai Stock Exchange, and Shenzhen Stock Exchange, or through M&A. Over 80 portfolio companies have become recognized unicorns or super-unicorns.
Many Qiming Venture Partners portfolio companies have grown into the most influential players in their respective fields, including Xiaomi (01810.HK), Meituan (03690.HK), Bilibili (NASDAQ: BILI, 09626.HK), Zhihu (NYSE: ZH, 02390.HK), Roborock (688169.SH), UBTECH (09880.HK), WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD), Insta360 (688775.SH), Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals (603087.SH), Tigermed (300347.SZ, 03347.HK), Zai Lab (NASDAQ: ZLAB, 09688.HK), CanSino Biologics (688185.SH, 06185.HK), Schrödinger (NASDAQ: SDGR), MicroPort EP MedTech (688617.SH), Sanyou Medical (688085.SH), Amoy Diagnostics (300685.SZ), Berry Genomics (000710.SZ), Sinocelltech (688520.SH), Yuanxin Technology, Insilico Medicine, MediLink Therapeutics, LaNova Medicines, Zhipu AI, StepFun, Biren Technology, and others.