Shares of WeRide Corp ADR (NASDAQ:WRD) rose 2% following the company’s announcement that it has obtained authorization to conduct road tests of its autonomous logistics vehicles in Huangpu District, Guangzhou. This permit for the Robovan W5 represents WeRide’s second active testing approval in the city, after receiving permission in Guangzhou’s Nansha District earlier in April. With this new authorization, WeRide becomes the first and only company to hold autonomous vehicle testing rights in Huangpu.
This milestone aligns with recent initiatives from Guangzhou Development District and Huangpu District, which unveiled a strategic policy framework aimed at accelerating the development and deployment of intelligent connected and new energy vehicles across various industries.
The Robovan W5 is engineered for high-frequency urban logistics operations, offering a cargo capacity of 5.5 cubic meters, a maximum payload of 1,000 kilograms, and a driving range up to 220 kilometers. Equipped with Level-4 autonomous driving technology and a proprietary redundant sensor system, the vehicle delivers 360-degree situational awareness in diverse conditions.
With the global smart logistics market expected to surpass $100 billion within three years and reach approximately $784 billion by 2030, WeRide is well-positioned to leverage this expansion as it pushes toward large-scale commercialization of its autonomous delivery vehicles.