Chinese language AV developer WeRide brings in $458.5M from IPO, personal placement

Chinese language AV developer WeRide brings in 8.5M from IPO, personal placement


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Chinese language AV developer WeRide brings in 8.5M from IPO, personal placement

WeRide is among the solely autonomous car corporations listed on the Nasdaq at the moment. | Supply: WeRide

Guangzhou, China-based WeRide was formally listed on the Nasdaq World Choose Market at this time underneath the ticker image “WRD.” The autonomous car, or AV, developer set its preliminary public providing value at $15.5 per American depositary share, or ADS. This value was on the decrease finish of the corporate’s focused vary.

“Seven years of perseverance have led to WeRide’s new journey at this time,” acknowledged Tony Han, the founder and CEO of WeRide. “We’re deeply grateful to our buyers, purchasers, workers, and all our companions for his or her belief and assist.”

“Collectively, we have now achieved this essential milestone,” he mentioned. “For us, going public is a brand new starting, and WeRide will proceed to drive technological innovation, delivering protected, snug, and handy autonomous driving services and products to extra nations and areas.” 

Established in 2017, WeRide supplies autonomous driving techniques starting from SAE Stage 2 to Stage 4. The firm holds autonomous driving licenses in China, the UAE, Singapore, and the U.S. To this point, it has carried out analysis and growth, testing, and operations throughout 30 cities in seven nations, with greater than 1,700 days of operation.

WeRide commercializes autonomous mobility

WeRide’s portfolio contains its Robotaxi, Robobus, Robovan, and Robosweeper, plus a sophisticated driver-assistance system (ADAS). It mentioned software eventualities span good mobility, good logistics, and good sanitation.

The firm‘s debut product, its Robotaxi, supplies L4 companies utilizing WeRide’s shared mobility community in addition to third-party shared mobility networks. It cited partnerships with world-class OEMs, together with GAC and Nissan, to design and manufacture these automobiles. 

Its subsequent providing, the Robobus, is a completely driverless, L4 bus designed for mass transit in city settings. WeRide partnered with Yutong Group to provide the system. The Robobus has a high velocity of 40 kph (24.8 mph). As well as, WeRide mentioned it may well deal with open roads in all climate situations. 

The corporate launched Robovan in September 2021. It constructed this providing with JMC-Ford Motors for intra-city supply in city areas. To this point, WeRide has carried out highway testing for this car, which it claimed can supply quite a lot of logistics services and products.

WeRide gives two variations of its Robosweeper, the smaller S1 and the bigger S6. These autonomous sanitation automobiles can sweep rubbish and mud from highway surfaces. The corporate mentioned that with a single cost, it may well cowl over 120,000 sq. m (1.2 million sq. ft.), autonomously dump rubbish, and park itself. 

An image showing WeRide's lineup of different autonomous vehicles on a blue and white background.

(From left to proper) WeRide’s Robovan, RoboBus, an ADAS-enabled car, S2 Robosweeper, robotaxi, and its S6 Robosweeper. | Supply: WeRide

AV corporations proceed developments

WeRide isn’t the one AV firm to announce massive funding rounds at this time. Waymo, the self-driving unit of Alphabet, raised $5.6 billion in Sequence C funding.

With this newest funding, Waymo mentioned it is going to proceed to welcome extra riders into its Waymo One robotaxi service in San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, and in Austin and Atlanta by way of its expanded partnership with Uber. 

Trying forward, WeRide mentioned it stays dedicated to its mission, persevering with to advance its know-how, and striving to supply revolutionary merchandise and ervices that contribute to greener, low-carbon, and sustainable city dwelling.

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