WeRide (文远知行), the Guangzhou-based autonomous-driving company listed in both the United States and Hong Kong, reported on Aug. 12 that its overseas revenue surged 164% year on year in the second quarter of 2026, as Robotaxi projects moved from testing toward commercial deployment across Europe and the Middle East.
The company generated CNY 230 million in second-quarter revenue, up 82% from a year earlier and 103% from the previous quarter. Gross margin reached 37.5%, an increase of 9.4 percentage points year on year. Revenue for the first half rose 73% to CNY 350 million, while overseas revenue increased 154%. WeRide said its operations now cover 13 countries and more than 60 cities, with several overseas markets reaching commercial break-even.
Robotaxi remains the main driver of the company’s international expansion. In Europe, WeRide is working with Uber to launch what the company describes as Spain’s first commercial Robotaxi pilot in Madrid. It is also expanding fully driverless operations in the Middle East and preparing right-hand-drive Robotaxi deployments in Singapore and Hong Kong. As of July 31, WeRide operated approximately 3,400 Level 4 autonomous vehicles worldwide, including more than 1,800 Robotaxis.
Partnerships with local mobility platforms are central to this expansion strategy. Instead of building wholly owned ride-hailing operations in every market, WeRide provides autonomous-driving technology and vehicles that can be integrated into platforms operated by companies such as Uber. This approach reduces the capital and local operating resources required for overseas expansion while allowing the same technology platform to be deployed across multiple markets.
WeRide is also developing a second growth engine in assisted driving. Revenue from its L2++ and L3 business rose 219% from the previous quarter. Its self-developed end-to-end driving solution, WRD 3.0, recorded shipments of approximately 30,000 units and secured production designations for more than 30 vehicle models. The company is also conducting a Level 3 proof-of-concept project with Mercedes-Benz.
The results suggest that WeRide’s overseas business is beginning to move beyond pilot programs and generate meaningful commercial revenue. Its cooperation with established mobility operators could provide a more scalable route into markets where regulatory approval, fleet operations and local customer acquisition remain major barriers. If the Madrid project progresses successfully, it could become an important reference for WeRide’s further expansion across Europe and demonstrate how Chinese autonomous-driving technology can enter overseas markets through local platform partnerships.