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WeRide sold 7.74 million American depositary shares in the offering at US$15.50 per piece, the lower end of its targeted range

China’s WeRide has secured a combined $440.5 million in its U.S. initial public offering and a private placement on October 25. The company aims to improve investor confidence and ease regulatory roadblocks.

WeRide sold 7.74 million American depositary shares in the offering at US$15.50 per piece, the lower end of its targeted range. It will raise roughly US$120 million. The IPO placed the company's worth at more than US$4 billion.

The decline in Chinese Companies That Pursued Stock Market Floatations in the US

In the past few years, there has been a decline in the number of Chinese companies that have pursued stock market floatations in the United States. 

This happened after the ride-hailing giant Didi Global was forced to delist its shares. This was due to the backlash faced by Didi Global from Chinese regulators.

The US IPO market has seen an increase in recent weeks with investors again looking for tech startups. It had previously fallen out of favour over the last two years due to concerns around cash burn and lofty valuations.

WeRise Secured US$320.5 million in Concurrent Private Placement

WeRide has also secured around US$320.5 million in a concurrent private placement.

WeRide said total proceeds can be as much as US$458.5 million if the option to buy more shares is exercised by the underwriters. It will start trading on the Nasdaq on October 25.

Establishing Robotaxi Services Will Take Several Years: Analysts

Analysts and industry experts indicated that establishing robotaxi services may still take several years. It is due to the need for safety and reliability. However, China has shown greater initiative in approving trials compared to the United States.

Accidents with self-driving cars, along with the technology's current shortcomings in response to bad weather, complicated intersections, and erratic actions of pedestrians are the major hurdles.

Companies hope that the EV sector matures which will transform urban transportation and mobility. In October, Tesla also unveiled a much-anticipated self-driving taxi and van.