China’s WeRide eyes Hong Kong, Singapore roads for robotaxis as self-driving giants expand

Chinese autonomous vehicle (AV) leader WeRide is accelerating its international expansion with concrete plans to launch commercial robotaxi services in Hong Kong and Singapore in 2026. The Guangzhou-based company announced that its 'Robotaxi GXR' model will become available to passengers in Singapore starting April 1 through a partnership with the ride-hailing giant Grab. Initially, these vehicles will operate with a safety operator onboard to comply with local regulations, allowing users to hail a self-driving car directly via the Grab app. This marks a significant step in bringing fully commercial, app-integrated autonomous ride-hailing to a major Southeast Asian market.

WeRide's expansion isn't limited to Singapore. The company also plans to deploy both robotaxis and autonomous buses (robobuses) on the streets of Hong Kong within the year, though specific operational zones and a launch date are still under wraps. This dual-city push underscores a strategic move to establish a foothold in key, regulated international markets. The announcement positions WeRide alongside other Chinese AV giants like Baidu's Apollo Go—which has already conducted over 20,000 km of road tests in Hong Kong—and Pony.ai, which is also in talks to enter the Hong Kong market, signaling a collective race beyond mainland China.