China’s autonomous vehicle companies are now looking to expand their reach overseas after years of aggressive growth in their home market. WeRide, in particular, has been focused on obtaining licenses to test its robobuses on public roads at a larger scale in Singapore.
Recently, WeRide announced that it has secured two licenses from the Land Transport Authority (LTA) of Singapore, allowing its self-driving buses to undergo tests in areas such as the One North tech cluster and the National University of Singapore. This news comes just five months after the company had obtained a self-driving license to test its robotaxis in the United Arab Emirates and holds various levels of AV permits both in the U.S. and China.
WeRide, like other Chinese AV companies, has shifted its focus towards commercial efforts and is investing in autonomous buses operating at lower speeds and in fixed routes with less unpredictable traffic conditions to manage. This strategy contrasts with the previously dominant pursuit of Level 4 robotaxis.
Singapore, a densely populated city-state facing an aging workforce, has been exploring AV technology since 2014 to address its land and manpower limitations. The city has adopted a measured approach to the development and roll-out of AVs, completing the first phase in controlled environments. The second phase will allow AVs for passenger and utility purposes to operate in selected areas, attracting various global players in the self-driving arena.
WeRide’s recent licenses from Singapore include one called Milestone 1 (M1), which enables AV testing on open roads in certain areas alongside safety operators. The company has also secured significant investments and established strategic cooperation agreements with local transport operators in preparation for its expansion into the Singaporean market.
WeRide’s vigorous preparations have not gone unnoticed by Singaporean political figures, as the city-state’s prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong, took a ride in a WeRide robotaxi during his visit to China earlier this year. WeRide’s founder and CEO, Tony Han, has also stated that Singapore is a regional center for the company’s Asia-Pacific market expansion.
As one of China’s most well-funded AV companies, WeRide was valued at $4.4 billion last year and confidentially filed for an IPO in the U.S. in March, demonstrating the company’s ambitious goals for international growth.
