WeRide Inc. and Geely’s Farizon New Energy Commercial Vehicle Group announced that they will deliver 2,000 upgraded, purpose‑built Robotaxi GXRs by the end of 2026. The new vehicles will be equipped with WeRide’s GEN8 autonomous driving system and a thousand‑beam digital LiDAR, and production is slated to begin in the third quarter of 2026.
The partnership builds on the original collaboration that launched the first‑generation GXR in October 2024. The upgraded GXRs will feature a drive‑by‑wire chassis from Farizon and a 17‑fold increase in LiDAR point‑cloud resolution, giving the system a 600‑meter detection range and improved performance in adverse weather.
With the addition of 2,000 units, WeRide’s global operating fleet is projected to exceed 2,600 vehicles in 2026, bringing the company closer to its goal of tens of thousands of autonomous vehicles by 2030. The joint effort is expected to cut vehicle cost by an additional 15 % and accelerate commercial deployment in China, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Europe.
Dr. Tony Han, founder and CEO of WeRide, said, “This deepened strategic collaboration between WeRide and Geely Farizon marks our shift from a product‑level partnership to an integrated ecosystem, and is a significant milestone in WeRide’s global Robotaxi deployment.” Mike Fan, CEO of Farizon, added, “Our partnership with WeRide is not only a precise integration of technology and resources, but also a clear example of Farizon’s strategic transformation from manufacturing to providing comprehensive ‘intelligent manufacturing + services’ solutions.”
The expanded production plan positions WeRide to replicate the successful Abu Dhabi model in new markets, leveraging Farizon’s manufacturing efficiency to achieve scale and cost savings. The 15 % cost reduction is expected to improve unit economics and make robotaxi services more competitive against traditional ride‑hailing models, while the broader geographic rollout expands the company’s revenue base and mitigates regional regulatory risks.
WeRide became the first publicly traded robotaxi company when it listed on Nasdaq in October 2024 and later on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in November 2025. As of March 9 2026, the company’s shares trade at $6.29, below its IPO price, but analysts maintain a positive outlook on its long‑term growth trajectory.
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