Beijing (Gasgoo)- On November 2, autonomous driving solution provider Pony.ai and the new energy vehicle arm of BAIC Group, BAIC BJEV, formed their partnership on developing L4 autonomous vehicles.
The collaboration aims to launch fully autonomous Robotaxis at a mass-production level, in a bid to advance large-scale deployment of autonomous ride-hailing services in China.
According to the agreement, the two companies will co-develop a fully autonomous Robotaxi based on the ARCFOX αT5, leveraging Pony.ai's seventh-generation autonomous driving software and hardware systems. The duo will focus on automotive-grade autonomous driving kits, vehicle production processes, redundant safety designs for the chassis, and innovative cabin experiences.
The companies aim to release the initial fleet of ARCFOX αT5 Robotaxis by 2025. Pony.ai and BAIC BJEV will also seek regulatory approval and production certification for L4 autonomous vehicle models and intend to extend their collaboration across additional future models.
Drawing on Pony.ai's expertise in L4 autonomous driving and Robotaxi operations, along with BAIC BJEV's capabilities in new energy vehicle R&D and production, the partners plan to deploy at least 1,000 Robotaxis across the domestic market, accelerating the commercial adoption of fully autonomous Robotaxi services. Additionally, the partnership extends to brand and market promotion, supply chain coordination, vehicle sales, and global technology expansion efforts.
