WeRide Recognized on Fortune's 2026 Change the World List as the Only Autonomous Driving Company Honored
First-half revenue grew 73% year over year, while the global fleet reached approximately 3,400 autonomous vehicles.
Rhea-AI Summary
WeRide (WRD) was named to Fortune's 2026 Change the World list as its only autonomous driving company. This was WeRide's third appearance, after 2023 and 2025. Its global fleet totals approximately 3,400 autonomous vehicles, including more than 1,800 Robotaxis, across 13 countries and over 60 cities.
First-half 2026 revenue rose 73% year over year to US$51.0 million; second-quarter revenue rose 82% to US$34.2 million. Overseas revenue increased 154% year over year in the first half. In Guangzhou, average daily rides per vehicle rose 24% quarter on quarter to over 21. WeRide received Spain's first national permit for Level 4 autonomous passenger vehicles to operate on public roads with Uber; commercial operations are expected by the end of 2026. It also received Europe's first fully driverless Robotaxi operational permit in Switzerland.
Positive
- First-half 2026 revenue rose 73% year over year to US$51.0 million
- Second-quarter 2026 revenue rose 82% year over year to US$34.2 million
- Overseas revenue rose 154% year over year in first-half 2026
- Guangzhou daily rides per vehicle rose 24% quarter on quarter to over 21
- Spain's first national Level 4 public-road permit received
Negative
- None.
News Explained
WeRide reports delivering approximately 30,000 units of its WRD 3.0 L2++/L3 solution in
Key Figures
- Companies on Fortune list
- 50 companies
- Worldwide companies honored on the 2026 Change the World list
- List appearances
- Third appearance
- Following recognitions in 2023 and 2025
- Autonomous vehicle fleet
- Approximately 3,400 vehicles, including more than 1,800 Robotaxis
- Global fleet
- Second-quarter revenue growth
- 82% year over year
- Q2 2026 revenue of US$34.2 million
Historical Context
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Second-quarter revenue rose 82.2% year over year; first-half revenue rose 73.3%.
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
NEW YORK, Sept. 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD, HKEX: 0800), a global leader in autonomous driving technology, has been named to Fortune's Change the World 2026 list as the only autonomous driving company recognized this year. The annual list honors 50 companies worldwide that are creating meaningful social impact through their core business strategies, alongside companies such as Anthropic, BYD, and Alphabet (Google).
This also marks WeRide's third appearance on the prestigious list, following recognitions in 2023 and 2025, and underscores the company's continued commitment to making transportation safer, more accessible, and more efficient through autonomous driving technology.
For Fortune's 12th annual Change the World list, WeRide stood out among approximately 200 companies as a business that delivers measurable social impact, business results, and innovation. More specifically, WeRide was recognized for its efforts to address one of society's most persistent challenges: transportation safety. Human error remains a leading cause of road accidents worldwide, while aging populations and driver shortages continue to put pressure on transportation systems in markets around the globe. By deploying autonomous driving technology at commercial scale, WeRide is helping improve transportation safety while expanding safe, accessible, and sustainable mobility at global scale.
Today, WeRide operates one of the world's largest autonomous driving fleets, with approximately 3,400 autonomous vehicles globally, including more than 1,800 Robotaxis, across 13 countries and over 60 cities. The company has successfully commercialized autonomous mobility services across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, demonstrating how autonomous driving can create lasting social impact while operating as a sustainable business.
Throughout 2026, WeRide continued expanding its global Robotaxi operations. In Europe, the company received Spain’s first national permit for Level 4 autonomous passenger vehicles to operate on public roads together with Uber with commercial operations expected to begin by the end of 2026. WeRide also received Europe's first fully driverless Robotaxi operational permit in Switzerland, and will be launching a public passenger service in the Furttal region in the near future. This service is part of the Intelligent Automated Mobility (iamo) pilot project, alongside Swiss Transit Lab, SBB and the Cantons of Zurich and Aargau. In Denmark, WeRide partnered with GreenMobility to pursue the country's first commercial autonomous mobility deployment, subject to regulatory approvals, with a plan to launch public service with the GXR in the first half of 2027.
Similarly, in Asia, WeRide continued improving the efficiency and accessibility of autonomous transportation. In China, peak daily orders per vehicle reached 28 while average daily rides per vehicle increased by
In the Middle East, WeRide achieved fully driverless Robotaxi operations in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai, with service areas expanding to more than
This expansion in WeRide's global deployment footprint reflects its commitment to bringing positive social impact by improving road safety through autonomous driving technology. In doing so, the company's business momentum has also accelerated significantly. In the first half of 2026, WeRide reported revenue of US
At the same time, WeRide has continued to advance innovation in Physical AI. In 2026, WeRide launched WeRide WITT, its Physical AI cognitive foundation model, to help autonomous systems better understand and learn from complex real-world environments, and WeRide GENESIS, its proprietary general-purpose simulation model. Together, these models create a Physical AI flywheel to accelerate autonomous driving development and commercialization.
WeRide's L2++ and L3 intelligent driving business also continued to advance, bringing safe intelligent driving technologies to everyday drivers. During the second quarter of 2026, the company delivered approximately 30,000 units of WRD 3.0, its one-stage end-to-end L2++/L3 solution, and secured production design wins for more than 30 vehicle models, expanding the commercial adoption of its autonomous driving technologies.
Looking ahead, WeRide will continue advancing autonomous driving technologies that deliver both commercial value and meaningful social impact, helping create a future where safe, reliable, and accessible transportation is available to more communities worldwide.
About WeRide
WeRide is a global leader and a first mover in the autonomous driving industry, as well as the first publicly traded Robotaxi company. Our autonomous vehicles have been deployed in over 60 cities across 13 countries. We are also the first and only technology company whose products have received autonomous driving permits in nine markets: China, the UAE, Singapore, France, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Spain, and the US. Empowered by the smart, versatile, cost-effective, and highly adaptable WeRide One platform, WeRide provides autonomous driving products and services from L2 to L4, addressing transportation needs in the mobility, logistics, and sanitation industries. WeRide was named to Fortune's Change the World lists in 2023, 2025, and 2026, and to the Fortune Future 50 list in 2025.
Media Contact
pr@weride.ai
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking” statements pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to,” and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about WeRide’s beliefs, plans, and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in WeRide’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and announcements on the website of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release. WeRide does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.
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FAQ
AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Why was WeRide named to Fortune's 2026 Change the World list?
WeRide was recognized for its efforts to address transportation safety through autonomous driving. It was the only autonomous driving company on the 2026 list, which honors 50 companies worldwide.
How many riders has WeRide's Singapore autonomous ride service served?
WeRide's service with Grab in Punggol had served more than 12,000 unique riders as of September 15, 2026. Launched in March 2026, it had also accumulated over 110,000 kilometres of autonomous mileage on Singapore's roads.
When does WeRide plan to launch autonomous public service in Denmark?
WeRide plans to launch public service with the GXR in the first half of 2027, subject to regulatory approvals. It partnered with GreenMobility to pursue the deployment.