WeRide Receives Caixin Global’s Inaugural Asian New Economy Pioneers Award
Beijing, November 8 — At the 15th Caixin Summit, WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD), the leading global commercial-stage company developing autonomous driving technologies from Level 2 to Level 4, was named a recipient of the inaugural Caixin Global Asian New Economy Pioneers Award. WeRide was the sole representative from the autonomous driving sector honored with the recognition, alongside 14 renowned companies in other industries, such as Sungrow, Neusoft, GEM, and Zeekr.
The Asian New Economy Pioneers Award was established to promote innovation and international expansion among Asia’s emerging economies. This recognition not only celebrates excellence in the new economy sector but also reinforces the development of a robust new economic ecosystem across Asia. In addition to Chinese companies, the award recipients include Indian and Singaporean companies including India’s largest electric scooter manufacturer, Ola Electric Mobility Ltd., and Southeast Asia’s consumer internet giant, Garena Interactive Holding Limited.
As a trailblazer in the autonomous driving industry, WeRide has successfully advanced the commercial deployment of autonomous driving technology across multiple countries and cities in Asia, contributing significantly to the region’s industrial advancement and innovative development.
China
In 2019, WeRide launched China’s first paid Robotaxi services to the public in Guangzhou, which was subsequently expanded to key cities such as Beijing, Nanjing, Suzhou, and Ordos. In Beijing, WeRide achieved commercial operations for autonomous driving Robotaxi services, covering both urban roads and airport highways. In 2022, WeRide successfully rolled out China’s first fee-based large-scale commercial pilot programs for robosweepers on public roads.
In 2023, WeRide partnered with Guangzhou Bus Group to launch China’s first commercial fee-based autonomous minibus services. This milestone was accompanied by the opening of the country’s first autonomous bus BRT route and the first autonomous bus night route. In 2024, WeRide received the first license in China for fully driverless Robovan road testing, with a commercial pilot program actively underway.
United Arab Emirates
Since 2021, WeRide’s Robotaxi fleet has been operating publicly in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, providing efficient and high-quality autonomous taxi services to residents and tourists on Yas Island and Saadiyat Island. It has been operating safely for approximately three years. Thanks to its solid performance and strong reputation in the local market, WeRide secured the Middle East’s and the world’s first national-level license for self-driving vehicles in July 2023.
Singapore
In December 2023, WeRide obtained the Milestone Testing Regime Level 1 License for Autonomous Vehicles (AV) on Public Roads (“M1 License”) and the T1 Assessment License for AVs on Public Paths (“T1 License”) in Singapore with an industrial record for the speed at obtaining such licenses. Six months later, WeRide’s Robobus began operating at Resorts World Sentosa, marking the launch of Singapore’s first public commercial shuttle services with purpose-built Robobus.
Concurrently, the first batch of WeRide Robosweepers has successfully arrived in Singapore and begun safety testing, with official operations expected to commence by the end of 2024.
The Asian New Economy Pioneers Award by Caixin Global not only acknowledges WeRide’s achievements in Asia but also highlights the company’s significant potential in fostering sustainable and high-quality development within the region’s new economic ecosystem. WeRide is committed to accelerating the large-scale commercialization of autonomous driving technology in smart cities with partners from different regions, injecting new vitality into the economic growth of Asia and beyond.
