GUANGZHOU, China — Chinese language language driverless vehicle start-up WeRide has made its first acquisition, an autonomous trucking agency, as a result of it appears to be to commercialize self-driving experience.

The Guangzhou-based agency bought MoonX.AI for an undisclosed sum, it launched on Tuesday.

Qingxiong Yang, founder and CEO of MoonX.AI, will develop into vice chairman of WeRide and dean of the company’s evaluation institute. Higher than 50 engineers from MoonX.AI can be part of WeRide.

WeRide’s acquisition highlights the speedy push to commercialize driverless experience in China as rivals intensifies. The company’s rivals embrace completely different start-ups like Pony.ai and AutoX, every based totally in south China, along with experience giant Baidu.

Earlier to MoonX.AI, Yang labored for the autonomous driving unit of embattled ride-hailing service Didi. WeRide hopes to bolster its crew of specialists with the acquisition.

“MoonX has a crew of gifted engineers with substantial experience in autonomous driving experience development and commercialization,” WeRide CEO Tony Han instructed CNBC. “The acquisition of MoonX permits us to assemble a superb stronger crew and entice the perfect skills inside the commerce.”

WeRide will even broaden its footprint in China, opening a model new office inside the tech hub of Shenzhen.

The acquisition and development moreover comes on the once more of a funding spherical in Would possibly that valued WeRide at $3.3 billion.

WeRide focuses on creating autonomous driving strategies that it’s going to most likely promote to automakers.

The company launched a robotaxi service in Guangzhou in 2019 and opened it as a lot as members of most of the people ultimate 12 months. The company may also be testing an autonomous bus.

WeRide says it has clocked 5.5 million kilometers of autonomous driving test miles with its robotaxis and robobus.

Though MoonX is an autonomous trucking agency, WeRide didn’t confirm whether or not or not it may begin rising into this commerce.

Nevertheless Han talked about the company is “actively engaged with companions from utterly completely different industries to extend our scope of service.”

He moreover hinted at a model new product ahead.

“MoonX’s expertise will help WeRide make one different game-changing AD (autonomous driving) product,” Han talked about.

WeRide declined to comment extra when requested for further particulars.