WeRide Inc. (NASDAQ: WRD) stock is soaring 12.55% in pre-market trading, building on its previous after-hours gains, following the announcement of a significant expansion of its strategic partnership with Uber Technologies Inc. This collaboration aims to bring autonomous vehicles to 15 additional cities globally over the next five years, including locations in Europe.

The expanded partnership marks a major milestone for WeRide, a leading autonomous mobility technology provider. Under the new agreement, the companies plan to increase the number of WeRide's Robotaxis on the Uber platform to 50 by mid-2025. This move represents Uber's first venture into offering autonomous vehicles outside the United States, highlighting the growing global interest in self-driving technology.

Investors are responding positively to WeRide's expanding global footprint and the potential for accelerated growth in the autonomous vehicle market. The partnership aligns with WeRide's recent successes, including its collaboration with Dubai's Road and Transport Authority and obtaining the UAE's first national license for self-driving vehicles on public roads. As cities worldwide look to integrate self-driving technologies into their transportation systems, WeRide's strategic collaborations and technological capabilities position it well to capitalize on this trend and potentially lead the competitive and rapidly advancing autonomous mobility sector.