Beijing (Gasgoo)- On December 11, autonomous driving tech company Pony.ai and new energy vehicle maker GAC AION signed a strategic partnership agreement at GAC Group's headquarters to co-develop a commercially competitive, large-scale production Robotaxi model, according to Pony.ai's announcement on the same day.
This collaboration aims to accelerate the commercialization of fully driverless Robotaxis.
Under the agreement, the two companies will leverage GAC AION's globally-oriented model and Pony.ai's seventh-generation autonomous driving software and hardware system to jointly develop a fully redundant, mass-produced Robotaxi vehicle platform.
Technical efforts are already underway, focusing on automotive-grade autonomous driving components, vehicle manufacturing, and redundant safety chassis designs. The duo plans to produce at least 1,000 units of the AION Robotaxi model, with the first fleet expected to launch in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area by 2025, eventually expanding to other regions and countries.
This collaboration combines Pony.ai's advanced L4 autonomous driving technology and Robotaxi operational expertise with GAC AION's cutting-edge intelligent manufacturing and comprehensive EV+ICV R&D capabilities. The partnership aims to elevate autonomous driving technology to new heights commercial-wise, promote smart mobility adoption, and shape a future-oriented transportation ecosystem. Notably, the designated GAC AION model used in this cooperation is a globally-oriented model, aiding the international deployment of autonomous driving technologies.
