WeRide sales exceed expectations amid rising ride-hailing demand

WeRide just delivered the kind of quarterly numbers that make competitors check their mirrors. The Chinese autonomous driving company reported Q2 2026 total revenue of RMB231.7 million, roughly US$34.2 million, a figure that grew 82.2% year-over-year and more than doubled sequentially from the prior quarter. The mechanics behind the growth The company’s domestic robotaxi business in China is firing on all cylinders, but the more striking story is what’s happening internationally. Overseas revenue climbed 164.4% compared to the same period last year. CEO Tony Han pointed to fleet efficiency as a core driver of the improvement. Average daily rides per vehicle crossed 21 trips, a 24% jump quarter-over-quarter. Ride-hailing revenue for the quarter grew approximately 140% compared to the previous quarter. Registered users expanded 35% sequentially. First-half 2026 revenue reached RMB345.9 million, up 73.3% versus the same period in 2025. Gross margin reached 37.5% in Q2, up from 28.1% a year earlier. CFO Jennifer Li credited the company’s asset-light operational model for much of that improvement. Rather than owning every vehicle outright, WeRide licenses its technology and partners wit...