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Nvidia-Backed WeRide Just Scored a Major Robotaxi Win. Should You Buy WRD Stock Now?![]() The competition in the autonomous vehicle industry is intense in 2025, and WeRide (WRD) is making headlines after deepening its robotaxi partnership with Tencent (TCEHY) to speed up the commercial launch of Level 4 self-driving cars. This step comes as the global robotaxi market is set for major growth, expected to jump from $1.19 billion in 2024 to $2.01 billion in 2025, which is a 69% annual increase according to the latest industry data. WeRide’s progress is also supported by Nvidia (NVDA), which revealed a stake in the company earlier this year. That news alone sent helped WRD shares to more than double. The autonomous vehicle market as a whole is on the edge of a huge shift. Statista projects the global autonomous vehicle market will top $2.3 trillion by 2030, fueled by more people moving to cities, growing demand for cleaner transport, and fast progress in AI and sensor tech. In this context, WeRide’s latest partnership and Nvidia’s endorsement position it as a stock to watch as the robotaxi revolution accelerates. How WeRide’s Finances Stack Up in 2025Backed by Nvidia and now catching global attention, WeRide (WRD) has become a leader in autonomous driving, rolling out its self-driving robotaxis, robovans, and robobuses in almost 30 cities around the world. The company’s approach relies on strong technology and key partnerships, with Tencent and Uber (UBER) joining recently to help speed up commercial launches and push into new markets, especially in mobility and logistics. Even with these big plans, WRD stock has struggled in 2025. Shares are down about 30% since the start of the year, which shows how cautious investors have been as the whole autonomous vehicle sector faces ups and downs. Still, there’s a bit of good news: WRD is up 15% in the last month, likely thanks to recent partnership announcements that have sparked fresh interest. Looking at the numbers from the first quarter of 2025, WeRide is clearly in a period of change. Revenue reached nearly $10 million, up just 1.8% from last year, but the robotaxi business now makes up 22.3% of that total, a jump from 11.9% a year ago. The company kept its gross profit margin steady at 35%, even as it grew its fleet to more than 1,200 vehicles and gained important regulatory approvals in new countries. Despite these positives, WeRide is still losing money, reporting a net loss of about $53 million for the quarter. That’s better than last year, but profitability is still a ways off. What’s Powering WeRide Forward?What’s pushing WeRide ahead in 2025 is a mix of major partnerships and a clear focus on growing its business worldwide. The company’s expanded deal with Tencent Cloud is a big step, not just for research, but also for actually getting Level-4 robotaxis on the road. By connecting its self-driving cars with Tencent’s huge digital platforms like WeChat’s Smart Transportation and Tencent Maps, WeRide is making it easier for people to use its services both in China and in other countries. Tencent Cloud’s global network is key to helping WeRide operate smoothly and follow local rules as it moves into new markets. The company’s momentum is even stronger thanks to Uber, which is investing another $100 million and working with WeRide to bring robotaxi services to 15 more cities over the next five years. Uber will take care of running the fleets, while WeRide supplies the technology. This teamwork is already showing results, with new launches in Abu Dhabi and Dubai and more regulatory approvals coming in different regions. If the company can deliver on its plans, these moves could help turn WeRide’s vision for self-driving cars into a profitable business. Analyst Sentiment and What Lies Ahead for WRDAnalysts are clearly positive on Nvidia-backed WeRide, and the reasons are straightforward. The stock has a consensus “Strong Buy” rating from the two analysts who follow it, with an average price target of $22.00. That’s about 107% higher than its current price. ConclusionWeRide’s latest moves with Tencent and Uber put it firmly in the driver’s seat of the global robotaxi race, but the road ahead is still bumpy. The stock’s recent slide and hefty losses remind us this is a long-term bet, not a quick win. Still, with heavyweight partners, growing revenues, and analysts eyeing big upside, WRD is shaping up as one of the most compelling plays in autonomous mobility. If you believe in the future of driverless tech and can stomach some volatility, WeRide might just be worth the ride. On the date of publication, Ebube Jones did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here. |
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