WeRide stock rises after securing Saudi Arabia’s first Robotaxi permit

Investing.com -- WeRide Corp ADR (NASDAQ:WRD) stock jumped 7.7% in pre-market trading Monday after the autonomous driving technology company announced it had secured Saudi Arabia’s first Robotaxi autonomous driving permit.The permit allows WeRide to operate an autonomous vehicle business and deploy Robotaxis nationwide in Saudi Arabia, beginning with pilot operations in Riyadh in partnership with Uber (NYSE:UBER) and local partner Ai Driver. The company stated it is now the only technology company with autonomous driving permits in six countries: Saudi Arabia, China, the UAE, Singapore, France, and the US.The pilot program, launched earlier this month, covers King Khalid International Airport and several key locations throughout Riyadh, including major highways and selected city center destinations. WeRide expects to launch a full-scale commercial Robotaxi service by the end of 2025 through its partnership with Uber.WeRide became the first autonomous vehicle technology company to complete the Transport General Authority’s Regulatory Sandbox for AV Piloting in Saudi Arabia. The approval process included testing, assessments, and technology validation across multiple government agencies."This permit marks a major step in our global expansion, enabling us to scale Robotaxi services and unlock new commercial opportunities in Saudi Arabia," said Jennifer Li, CFO and Head of International at WeRide.The company entered the Saudi market in May 2025 and has been testing its Robobus in several locations including King Fahad Medical City and Aramco (TADAWUL:2222) residential communities. WeRide has also deployed its Robosweeper S1 at King Fahad Medical City, representing the first monetized autonomous sanitation project in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East.This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.