Car series
The upgraded Robotaxi GXR will be deployed in both Chinese and international markets, marking a new step toward large-scale global commercialization of autonomous taxi services.
The new-generation Robotaxi GXR is expected to roll off the production line in the third quarter of 2026. The production plan is expected to accelerate the commercial rollout of WeRide’s Robotaxi operations.
As of January 2026, WeRide’s global Robotaxi fleet totaled 1,023 vehicles. With the additional 2,000 units planned for delivery, the company expects its global operational fleet to exceed 2,600 vehicles this year. WeRide is targeting a global Robotaxi fleet of tens of thousands of vehicles by 2030.
The upgraded Robotaxi GXR will feature WeRide’s latest autonomous driving system, GEN8, built around the company’s self-developed Sensor Suite 8.0 (SS8.0).
A key upgrade is a high-resolution lidar sensor capable of detecting objects at distances of up to 600 meters—around two to three times the range of typical industry systems. The system increases point cloud detail by 17 times and allows the vehicle to identify road conditions earlier. According to the company, the longer detection range can provide more than 70 percent additional time for safety decisions during high-speed driving.
The system is designed to detect small obstacles and potential risks more accurately and maintain stable perception in challenging weather conditions such as heavy rain or dense fog, supporting all-weather autonomous driving services.
Production efficiency is also expected to improve. Using Farizon’s AI-by-wire chassis technology along with its supply chain and manufacturing system, the production time for each vehicle is expected to drop from about one hour to less than 10 minutes.
The companies said they are also working to reduce Robotaxi costs. The total cost of the upgraded Robotaxi GXR is expected to decrease by about 15 percent.
Tony Han, founder and CEO of WeRide, said the expanded partnership marks a new phase of cooperation between the two companies.
“Our collaboration is evolving from product development to broader ecosystem cooperation,” Han said. “By combining our autonomous driving technology with Farizon’s manufacturing capabilities, we aim to accelerate the commercial deployment of Robotaxi GXR in markets including China, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Europe.”
Fan Xianjun, CEO of Geely Farizon New Energy Commercial Vehicle Group, said the partnership supports the company’s transition from traditional manufacturing to intelligent mobility solutions.
“With our R&D capabilities and smart factory production system, we will support the large-scale production and delivery of the GXR model and help advance the commercialization of Level 4 autonomous driving,” Fan said.
The expanded cooperation builds on an existing Robotaxi program between the two companies. In October 2024, Farizon and WeRide introduced the Robotaxi GXR based on the Farizon Super VAN platform.
The vehicle is already operating in cities including Guangzhou, Beijing, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Riyadh. Public operations are also scheduled to begin in Singapore on April 1 this year.
The Farizon Super VAN platform has entered nearly 30 European markets and won the 2025 International Van of the Year (IVOTY) award. It was the first Chinese vehicle to reach the final stage of the award in its 33-year history.
Earlier this year, Farizon announced its “30111” strategy, targeting annual sales of one million vehicles by 2030. The company aims to become the leading commercial vehicle brand in China and the global leader in new energy commercial vehicles.
Beyond Robotaxi, Farizon’s Robotruck vehicles are already operating in port environments, while Robovan and Robobus models are expected to begin large-scale deployment later this year.
The company plans to develop a broader ecosystem for its Robo vehicle lineup, integrating vehicle technology, manufacturing and operations. As more autonomous vehicles enter real-world applications, large-scale commercial deployment of driverless mobility is expected to accelerate.
