Since early this year, Chinese autonomous driving companies have accelerated their global expansion, with major announcements following in quick succession.
In August, Baidu said it formed a partnership with US ride-hailing platform Lyft to launch Apollo Go in the UK and Germany in 2026 through Lyft’s platform, with plans to expand across Europe with several thousand vehicles. Around the same time, WeRide disclosed that Grab would invest in the company as part of a broader alliance to accelerate the rollout of Level 4 robotaxis and other autonomous vehicles in Southeast Asia.
As ride-hailing platforms deepen partnerships with autonomous driving firms, a model is emerging in which Chinese companies use global networks to chart a path for overseas growth.
Robotaxis are now one of the most significant commercialization scenarios for Level 4 autonomous driving.
At home, Chinese companies have built up operational experience through years of trials and regulatory adaptation, while falling hardware costs and algorithmic advances have improved the economics. According to its latest earnings, WeRide generated RMB 127 million (USD 17.8 million) in revenue in the second quarter of 2024, up 60.8% year-on-year (YoY). Its robotaxi unit contributed RMB 45.9 million (USD 6.4 million), an 836.7% increase. Pony.ai reported revenue of RMB 154 million (USD 21.6 million), up 75.9% YoY, with robotaxi passenger fares tripling. Baidu’s Apollo Go completed more than 2.2 million fully driverless rides in the quarter, up 148% YoY.
Still, industry-wide losses persist. To reach sustainable commercialization, operators must overcome challenges in cost reduction, regulation, scaling, and user adoption.
This has pushed Chinese firms to expand through global partnerships. Platforms such as Uber, Lyft, and Grab bring vast user bases and proven operating systems, making them natural partners. Their collaborations are enabling deployments at scale and accelerating global commercialization.
Several deals illustrate this trend:
- In July, Apollo Go announced a partnership with Uber to introduce thousands of driverless vehicles onto Uber’s global platform. The companies plan to begin deploying Apollo Go’s sixth-generation vehicles in Asia and the Middle East by year’s end, before expanding to other regions.
- In May, WeRide secured a USD 100 million follow-on investment from Uber and deepened their partnership with plans to expand into 15 new cities across Europe, the Middle East, and other markets over the next five years.
- Also in May, Momenta signed an agreement with Uber to bring its autonomous vehicles onto Uber’s platform in international markets outside the US and China. Their first commercial rollout, with safety operators on board, is planned for early 2026 in Europe.
- Pony.ai announced in May that its robotaxi fleets would join Uber’s platform in the second half of the year, starting in the Middle East before expanding to additional markets. Earlier, Pony.ai also partnered with Singapore-based transport operator ComfortDelGro, aiming to commercialize autonomous ride-hailing in China before scaling globally.
China’s leading autonomous driving firms are increasingly tied into Uber’s partner network. According to its latest earnings, Uber now counts 20 autonomous driving partners across ride-hailing, delivery, and freight.
For Chinese companies, these alliances provide immediate access to large user pools, reduce acquisition and fleet costs, and generate valuable real-world data. For ride-hailing platforms, they expand supply through an asset-light model, diversify services, and speed adoption of driverless technology, strengthening their ecosystems.
The convergence of autonomous technology and global platforms is becoming a key pathway for Chinese firms to scale internationally.
The Middle East has emerged as a particularly attractive market, with favorable road conditions, regulatory support, and viable economics:
- WeRide received the UAE’s first national autonomous driving license in 2023. In 2024, it partnered with Uber to launch robotaxi services in Abu Dhabi, where its fleet has since tripled in size and expanded service coverage. It also signed an agreement with Uber and Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to deploy commercial robotaxi services in Dubai, while extending operations to Saudi Arabia after securing the country’s first autonomous driving permit.
- Pony.ai reached a deal with Dubai’s RTA to launch a robotaxi fleet, with pilot operations expected in 2025 and fully driverless commercial services by 2026. In 2023, Pony.ai received a USD 100 million investment from Saudi Arabia’s Neom and its investment arm. The two plan to establish a joint venture to provide autonomous driving solutions in the region.
- Apollo Go signed an agreement with Dubai’s RTA to conduct large-scale driverless testing and services in the city, with plans to deploy more than 1,000 vehicles. It also partnered with UAE-based Autogo to launch driverless ride-hailing in Abu Dhabi.
Elsewhere, deployments are advancing in Southeast Asia and Europe. On September 1, WeRide announced that its first batch of GXR robotaxis had arrived in Singapore for testing. Pending approval, they are expected to operate on designated public roads by late 2025.
The road to robotaxi commercialization remains long and complex. Whether partnerships with global platforms can evolve into sustainable, large-scale business models will determine not only the near-term success of Chinese firms abroad but also the broader progress of autonomous driving worldwide.