Robotaxis: Pony.ai sets mass production target with eye on overseas expansion

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Pony.ai co-founder Lou Tiancheng speaks at a conference in Singapore on July 9. Photo: Reuters

Chinese autonomous driving technology firm Pony.ai is gearing up to mass produce driverless cabs to make its robotaxis widely available and more affordable, as technological advancement helps shorten its path to commercialisation.

The Guangzhou-based company – the only firm with approval to operate robotaxi services on the mainland’s four most developed cities – is banking on an accelerated pace of commercialisation at home and abroad to achieve cost efficiency, according to Lou Tiancheng, co-founder and chief technology officer.

“We are anticipating a pickup in production [of robotaxis],” he said in an interview on the weekend. “Over the past few years, we have solidified our tie-ups with carmakers to attest to the feasibility of building a large volume of driverless cabs.”

Pony.ai would partner with local carmakers GAC and BAIC, and Toyota of Japan in production, and target a fleet of 1,000 robotaxis by the end of this year, he added.

Pony.ai co-founder Lou Tiancheng speaks at a conference in Singapore on July 9. Photo: Reuters

Nasdaq-listed Pony.ai received a permit to run its robotaxis in Shanghai’s Pudong New Area last week. The permit allows the company to charge fares, pioneering the move in the nation’s major commercial and financial hub.

Pony.ai will initially operate its fleet in the Jinqiao and Huamu areas totalling a combined 40 sq km. That will be gradually expanded to other parts of Pudong, China’s 1,400 sq km pioneer zone to showcase progress in building a modern socialist system.

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