WeRide's Vision: Autonomous Driving's Safety Potential

Tony Han, the visionary founder and CEO of WeRide, draws a compelling parallel between the evolution of autonomous vehicles and the historic achievements of the Wright brothers. Their groundbreaking journey into powered flight, which took four years to achieve just 12 seconds of airborne success, serves as a testament to the iterative nature of innovation.

Much like the early trials of aviation, the development of self-driving cars has been marred by headlines about accidents. From 2019 to 2024, there have been 3,979 incidents involving autonomous vehicles, with approximately 10% resulting in injuries. In contrast, traditional vehicles had an accident rate of 4.1 incidents per million miles in 2021, whereas autonomous vehicles recorded a significantly higher rate of 9.1 per million miles, as reported by the National Law Review. Han emphasizes that these challenges are inherent to the journey of technological advancement, aimed at creating safer options for future generations.

“If you delve into historical accounts, you'll find that even a single crash involving the Wright brothers' airplane made headlines, regardless of whether anyone was harmed,” Han remarked during the Fortune Global Forum in Riyadh. “This is a reflection of our human history.”

WeRide's Vision: Autonomous Driving's Safety Potential He continued, “As entrepreneurs and innovators, we must embrace a fearless spirit. It’s essential that we boldly pursue innovation, especially in this era dominated by artificial intelligence. Our efforts today will be appreciated by future generations.”

Currently, around 1,500 autonomous vehicles are operating commercially across the United States, but Goldman Sachs projects this number could soar to 35,000 by the end of 2023. McKinsey forecasts that the global market for autonomous technology could yield between $300 billion and $400 billion in revenue over the next decade. WeRide, a formidable competitor to Alphabet’s Waymo, recently announced its plans to launch robotaxi services in Riyadh in partnership with Uber, holding operational permits in Saudi Arabia, China, the UAE, Singapore, France, and the United States.

Despite the challenges, Han asserts that autonomous driving technology offers a safer alternative compared to human operators. While the accident rates for self-driving vehicles may exceed those of conventional cars, the rates of injuries and fatalities associated with automated driving remain lower than those for traditional vehicles.

“This technology is still in its infancy, and nothing new comes without its flaws. However, it has reached a level of maturity that allows for large-scale deployment,” Han explained. “While I cannot promise a transportation solution that is 100% safe, I can confidently say that we could offer a service that is potentially ten times safer than human driving.”

Emerging evidence suggests that the adoption of autonomous driving could significantly enhance road safety and minimize the occurrence of accidents. A report by an insurance company in December 2024 indicates that the integration of self-driving technology may lead to improved safety outcomes on our roads.

As the industry continues to evolve, Han remains optimistic about the future. He believes that with continued innovation and dedication, autonomous driving will not only transform transportation but also pave the way for a safer, more efficient road environment.