WeRide (WRD) Stock Jumps 6% as Uber Reveals Nearly 6% Ownership Stake

Key Highlights

• Uber Technologies (UBER) revealed ownership of 56.6 million WeRide (WRD) shares, equating to a 5.82% passive position in the self-driving vehicle firm.
• WeRide stock climbed 6.1% during Monday’s premarket session after the ownership disclosure.
• The collaboration between Uber and WeRide began in September 2024, originally centered on robotaxi services in the UAE without any equity component.
• In May 2025, Uber committed $100M to WeRide with plans to extend operations across 15 additional markets within five years.
• Analyst consensus leans toward Strong Buy for WRD on Wall Street; Seeking Alpha’s analysts maintain a Hold position.

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WeRide (WRD) shares are currently hovering near $6.76, representing approximately a 60% decline from the stock’s 52-week peak of $16.86, before Monday’s premarket gains.

WeRide Inc., WRD

[[LINK_START_2]]Uber Technologies (UBER)[[LINK_END_2]] has publicly verified its 5.82% passive ownership in WeRide (WRD), propelling the autonomous driving company’s shares noticeably upward during Monday’s premarket hours. The filing revealed Uber controls 56,618,266 shares — a substantial position that adds significant depth to what began as a strictly operational alliance roughly 18 months prior.

The partnership between these two entities traces back to September 2024, when Uber and WeRide unveiled intentions to integrate WeRide’s self-driving vehicles into Uber’s platform, with initial operations launching in the United Arab Emirates. The original announcement characterized the arrangement solely as an operational collaboration for robotaxi services — without any mention of financial investment.

The situation evolved rapidly thereafter.

By May 2025, Uber declared a $100 million capital injection into WeRide, accompanied by strategies to broaden the partnership across 15 more metropolitan areas throughout the following five years. WeRide’s regulatory submission during that period indicated the transaction was anticipated to finalize during the latter half of 2025, subject to customary closing requirements.

Monday’s regulatory filing validates that the investment has now been completed.

Vehicle Deployment and Performance Data

WeRide presently manages a robotaxi network comprising 1,125 vehicles, with 250 units stationed in international markets. The organization projects this figure will expand to 2,600 vehicles by the close of this year, with approximately 30% operating in territories beyond China.

Regarding market penetration, WeRide intends to establish presence in an additional major Chinese city this year while initiating commercial services in Singapore, Zurich, Madrid, and one more European metropolitan area.

Within China, WeRide’s autonomous taxis currently complete an average of 15 rides daily, increasing to 26 during high-demand windows. Journey lengths typically span 5 kilometers, with pricing set at 2 yuan per kilometer — representing a 50% reduction compared to conventional ride-hailing services. The firm aims for 25 trips per vehicle daily at 3 yuan per kilometer as a medium-term objective, with rates anticipated to align more closely with traditional ride-hailing as operational efficiency increases.

Middle Eastern operations continue progressing, although WeRide has acknowledged possible vehicle shipment interruptions connected to regional geopolitical tensions.

Financial Performance and Expert Analysis

WeRide lowered its overall ownership costs by 38% throughout 2025, advancing its remote support efficiency from a 1:10 ratio to 1:40. The organization anticipates additional cost improvements in 2026 as both vehicle procurement prices and autonomous technology system expenses decrease with increased production volume.

Revenue expanded 40% across the preceding 12-month period. While the company continues operating at a loss, it maintains a stronger cash position than debt burden on its financial statements, providing support for growth initiatives. Its current market valuation stands at approximately $2.17 billion.

Morgan Stanley confirmed an Overweight recommendation for WRD on March 23, establishing a $14.70 price objective — exceeding double the present trading level. Analyst Tim Hsiao refreshed his assessment following an examination of WeRide’s growth strategies and operational metrics.

Wall Street analysts collectively maintain a consensus Strong Buy recommendation for the stock. Seeking Alpha analysts express greater reservation, assigning a Hold rating.

In related news, NVIDIA’s most recent 13F disclosure indicated the semiconductor manufacturer divested its WeRide position, along with holdings in Arm Holdings and Applied Digital.