robotaxi competition in China sees Pony AI taking the lead over WeRide
In the dynamic landscape of China's robotaxi market, two companies stand out as frontrunners: Pony AI and WeRide Inc. Both are making significant strides in commercialising and expanding their autonomous taxi services, each with their unique strengths and challenges.
Progress in the Chinese Robotaxi Market
Both Pony AI and WeRide operate similar-sized fleets, with projections for 2025 around 1,000 vehicles for Pony AI and about 1,200 for WeRide. However, Pony AI is generally perceived by investors as advancing faster in commercial deployment and operational maturity, which has boosted its stock performance (+16% since U.S. listing) compared to WeRide’s declining share value (lost about a third since its Nasdaq debut).
Both companies have secured licenses to operate commercial Robotaxi services in Shanghai's Pudong New Area, one of the most strategic and bustling urban districts in China. This was awarded during the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), marking a crucial regulatory endorsement.
Pony AI holds a unique position with permits to operate fully driverless commercial Robotaxi services across all four tier-one Chinese cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. This demonstrates a broader and more established operational footprint than WeRide, which currently focuses mainly on Shanghai’s Pudong districts.
Pony AI has expanded its 24/7 robotaxi testing in Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, improving service availability beyond previous restricted hours, supporting broader urban mobility needs.
Global Expansion Plans
Pony AI is described as a global autonomous mobility leader, implying ambitions and some ongoing activities beyond China. While specific global market entries after China are less detailed in the current context, Pony AI’s U.S. Nasdaq listing and partnerships hint at an international focus.
WeRide's global expansion plans are less explicitly covered in the current context. Its lower stock performance and concentration on Shanghai's Robotaxi permits suggest a more cautious or regionally focused approach relative to Pony AI.
Comparison
| Aspect | Pony AI | WeRide Inc. | |-------------------------------|--------------------------------------|-----------------------------------| | Fleet Size (2025 forecast) | ~1,000 vehicles | ~1,200 vehicles | | Commercial Robotaxi Licenses | Permits in all 4 tier-one Chinese cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen) | Permits in Shanghai Pudong area | | Regulation and Market Presence | Faster commercialization, operational maturity | Licensed but less expansive presence | | Stock Performance (2025) | +16% since U.S. listing | -33% since Nasdaq debut | | Testing Hours | 24/7 robotaxi testing in major cities | No specific info on testing hours | | Global Expansion Focus | Indicated as a global leader; active US listing and investor backing | Less detailed; primarily China-focused |
Financial Performance
Both Pony and WeRide are currently losing money, but have significant cash reserves to fund their operations. WeRide had 4.43 billion yuan at the end of March, enough to fund its losses for more than 11 years. Pony AI, on the other hand, has $738.5 million in cash and other highly liquid investments, enough to fund similar losses for 20 years.
Pony's robotaxi revenue tripled in the first quarter of this year to $1.73 million from $576,000 a year earlier. WeRide's revenue for the same period was 72.4 million yuan ($10.1 million), showing a 1.6% year-on-year gain. Pony AI forecasts it would operate 1,000 vehicles by the end of this year, compared with 1,200 for WeRide at the end of March this year. Pony's revenue for the first quarter of this year was $14 million, a 12% increase from the previous year.
Uber announced a $100 million investment in WeRide in May, which would give it 3.4% of the company.
In conclusion, Pony AI is currently leading in operational scale, geographic reach within China, and investor confidence, while WeRide remains a strong competitor primarily concentrated on Shanghai with recent market challenges. Both have won key regulatory approval to operate commercial robotaxi services in Shanghai’s important Pudong business district, reflecting strong validation of their technology and market potential.
In the realms of finance and investing, Pony AI's robust growth in commercial deployment and operational maturity has resulted in a 16% increase in its stock value since the U.S. listing, contrasting WeRide's declining share value that has lost about a third since its Nasdaq debut.
Connecting the worlds of business and technology, Pony AI's ambition as a global autonomous mobility leader, as indicated by its U.S. Nasdaq listing and partnerships, sets it apart from WeRide, which appears to be taking a more regionally focused approach in its expansion plans.
