WeRide expands globally as the transportation industry embraces AI technology.

• WeRide's Singapore director of business development, Sebastian Yee, stated that logistics delivery and waste transport have been advancing, transitioning from indoor robotics to outdoor robotics to autonomous outdoor operations.
• The company creates autonomous technology for robotaxis, minibuses, freight vehicles, and sanitation vehicles.
• The development of AI is causing things to move relatively fast, according to Yee.

WeRide is expanding globally at a faster pace due to the increasing adoption of machine learning in transportation as a result of the artificial intelligence boom.

WeRide's Singapore director of business development, Sebastian Yee, stated that logistics delivery and waste transport have been advancing rapidly, from indoor robotics to outdoor robotics to autonomous outdoors. This is due to the current development of AI.

In June, the firm initiated safety testing for "Robosweepers" in Singapore, after successful rollouts in various cities in China.

These vehicles, after passing safety testing, will operate fully autonomous without a safety driver. These AI-powered vehicles can perform various sanitation tasks such as road sweeping, water spraying and disinfection, as well as detect road conditions and avoid pedestrians and obstacles.

An autonomous public shuttle bus service with a safety driver onboard was deployed by WeRide in the same month at Resorts World Sentosa, a resort island located south of Singapore.

The company, established in Silicon Valley in 2017, introduced a robotaxi service in Guangzhou, China in 2019 and has received strategic investments from global automakers such as the -- alliance and GAC Group.

The company creates and evaluates various self-driving technologies, with the most advanced being a system that allows the vehicle to operate independently, but with a safety driver present as a backup measure.

WeRide is the only company that has driverless permits from the U.S., China, UAE, and Singapore. While some companies have permits from only one or two countries, WeRide has four.

Xu stated that although we are primarily a Chinese company, we are more of an international company as we have started expanding to other countries.

WeRide is now eyeing other markets such as Japan and Europe.

Yee stated, "We're heading to Europe. Two months ago, we were at the French Open. We used a vehicle. We'll expand gradually. I believe that's the initial step."

Didi, a Chinese ride-hailing company, filed for an initial public offering on the Nasdaq in 2021, but subsequently delisted after Chinese regulators asked the firm's executives to formulate a plan to do so.

WeRide, a company based in the Cayman Islands, stated in an SEC filing on Friday that it may encounter legal and operational risks and uncertainties due to its operations primarily in mainland China. The company did not comment on its IPO.

'Commercial sense'

Yee stated that WeRide chose to enter Singapore and the UAE as they are key locations in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, respectively, and both countries are "very open" to autonomous vehicle technology.

Yee stated that a well-established government and ecosystem with regulation in the market is necessary, according to him.

In addition to having a level of understanding of AI development, countries must also possess commercial sense.

"If a country lacks the commercial level but possesses a vision, it is still possible to achieve its goals. However, if one does not have a clear vision, it is pointless to strive for success."

Self-driving bus trials are set to begin at Changi Airport this quarter, with the aim of boosting productivity.

AV technology could assist countries with aging populations, such as Japan and Singapore, in addressing workforce shortages. Singapore aims to alleviate the strain on its roads caused by an increasing and elderly population by utilizing AVs to enhance public transportation.

While American companies like Waymo have been making strides in the AV industry, Chinese automakers have been excelling in innovation and manufacturing.

The Chinese government recently approved a group of nine domestic automakers, including and , to test conditionally automated driving technologies on public roads.

Elon Musk aims to secure regulatory approval for Tesla's Full-Self Driving technology in China by the year's end.