Toyota-backed Chinese autonomous driving firm Pony.ai and Geely join hands to accelerate roll-out of robotaxis
- Pony aims to operate a robotaxi service in Suzhou this year with Geely’s ride-hailing unit Cao Cao Mobility and Geely Intelligent Driving Centre
- Carmakers see huge potential in autonomous cabs thanks to China’s ambitions of becoming a global smart EV powerhouse, analyst says
Guangzhou-based Pony aims to operate an autonomous taxi or robotaxi service in Suzhou, in China’s eastern Jiangsu province, this year with Geely’s ride-hailing unit Cao Cao Mobility and Geely Intelligent Driving Centre, it said in a statement on Friday.
“Major automotive industry players in China have realised the huge potential of robotaxis amid the government’s ambitions of turning the country into a global smart electric vehicle [EV] powerhouse,” said Chen Jinzhu, CEO of Shanghai Mingliang Auto Service, a consultancy firm. “A marriage between technology firms and carmakers will benefit the growth of this business.”
Pony is one of only two companies allowed by Beijing to offer robotaxi services in China, along with internet search giant Baidu. Founded in 2016 by James Peng and Lou Tiancheng, former developers and engineers at Apollo, Baidu’s self-driving unit, Pony has been actively seeking tie-ups with third-party platforms to promote its autonomous taxis and technologies.
Under the agreement, Pony will provide self-driving technology and Geely Intelligent Driving Centre will be responsible for construction of IT infrastructure. The robotaxis will be operated through the Cao Cao ride-hailing platform.
Pony’s robotaxis have a human “security officer” behind the wheel, ready to intervene if necessary.