Qiming Venture Partners portfolio company WeRide expands strategic partnership with Uber, bringing autonomous Robotaxi service to 15 new cities globally
The cross-continental new city expansion plan demonstrates WeRide and Uber's confidence in each other's technology, as well as their shared pursuit of innovative, sustainable transportation solutions.
Qiming Venture Partners portfolio company WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD), the world's first publicly listed general-purpose autonomous driving company and the first listed Robotaxi operator, has jointly announced with Uber Technologies, Inc. an expanded strategic partnership. Over the next five years, the two companies plan to add 15 international cities to their autonomous Robotaxi service network, including markets across Europe and the Middle East. This upgraded collaboration demonstrates how WeRide and Uber are leveraging cutting-edge autonomous driving technology to shape the future of mobility, accelerating their shared vision of delivering autonomous ride-hailing services to users worldwide.
WeRide Robotaxi in Abu Dhabi
WeRide and Uber signed their initial strategic partnership in September 2024, successfully launching public Robotaxi operations in Abu Dhabi that December. The fleet is expected to reach 50 vehicles by mid-2025. In April this year, the partnership quickly expanded to Dubai. Under this expanded agreement, both parties commit to adding multiple new cities annually in markets outside China and the United States, deploying autonomous Robotaxi fleets at scale. Users will be able to hail WeRide's Robotaxi service through the Uber app, with Uber handling fleet operations management.
WeRide and Uber reached a strategic partnership in September 2024
"We are thrilled to take our partnership with Uber to new heights. This intercontinental city expansion plan reflects our mutual confidence in each other's technology and our shared commitment to innovative, sustainable transportation solutions," said Tony Han, WeRide's founder and CEO. "This aligns perfectly with WeRide's ambitious strategy of enabling global users to access affordable, convenient autonomous mobility services."
"What we're announcing today is an unprecedented strategic partnership in the autonomous driving space, marking a critical step toward making autonomous services available in more cities globally," said Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber. "Leveraging Uber's global network, operational expertise, and leading platform technology, we're excited to work with a top-tier autonomous driving technology company like WeRide to scale the commercialization of autonomous vehicles and bring the benefits of self-driving to more users."
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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 outstanding early and growth-stage companies in the Technology and Consumer (T&C) and Healthcare sectors.
To date, Qiming Venture Partners has invested in over 580 high-growth innovative companies, with more than 210 listed on exchanges including the NYSE, NASDAQ, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, Shanghai Stock Exchange, and Shenzhen Stock Exchange, or exited through M&A and other means. 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), 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), Genrix Bio (688520.SH), Yuanxin Technology, ClinChoice, Belief BioMed, and Biren Technology.