Uber Technologies Inc is reportedly planning to invest in the Hong Kong listings of autonomous vehicle companies Pony AI Inc and WeRide Inc, signaling its continued commitment to expanding partnerships in the Chinese robotaxi sector.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Uber may invest around US$100 million (RM420.2 million) in Pony AI’s share sale. Pony AI, which went public in the US last year, aims to raise up to US$972 million in its Hong Kong offering, with the potential to increase the size of the deal through an over-allotment option.
San Francisco-based Uber is also eyeing WeRide’s Hong Kong listing, although the exact investment amount has not been disclosed. Other potential investors in the offerings may include Grab Holdings Ltd, Singapore’s state investor Temasek Holdings Pte, and German engineering giant Robert Bosch GmbH.
WeRide, which also went public in the US a year ago, filed for a Hong Kong IPO seeking up to US$398 million. Discussions are ongoing, and the investment plans could change, according to the sources. Uber, Pony AI, and WeRide did not immediately comment.
Previously, Uber invested in the US IPOs of both Pony AI and WeRide, and in May announced an additional US$100 million investment in WeRide. The ride-hailing firm has also collaborated with Pony AI earlier this year to launch autonomous services in the Middle East and partnered with WeRide in Abu Dhabi.
Since their US debuts, Pony AI’s American depositary receipts have gained more than 50%, while WeRide’s have fallen 28% over the same period.
Both companies plan to use proceeds from their Hong Kong listings to scale autonomous driving operations. Pony AI intends to commercialise its Level 4 robotaxi and robotruck technology and fund research and development, aiming for profitability by 2028–2029. WeRide plans to advance its autonomous driving technology, accelerate commercial mass production of Level 4 fleets, and expand its operations over the next five years, although it has yet to turn a profit.
Grab, meanwhile, is also moving into autonomous mobility, recently investing in Michigan-based May Mobility to bring robotaxi services to Southeast Asia and partnering with WeRide to deploy fleets in the region.
This move by Uber reflects the growing strategic importance of autonomous vehicle technologies in Asia and its push to deepen collaboration with key robotaxi developers in China and beyond.
