Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On June 1, Chinese autonomous driving technology firm Pony.ai and Shenzhen Xihu Group announced a strategic partnership to jointly deploy an autonomous taxi fleet in Shenzhen, according to a post on Pony.ai's WeChat account. The collaboration aims to accelerate the taxi industry's transformation from electrification to intelligence.
According to the agreement, the new fleet will feature mass-produced vehicles equipped with Pony.ai's seventh-generation autonomous driving software and hardware system, capable of Level 4 autonomy. The two companies plan to gradually roll out a fleet of over 1,000 vehicles across Shenzhen, leveraging autonomous driving technology to enhance operational safety, using intelligent scheduling systems to improve efficiency, and offering smarter ride experiences to elevate customer satisfaction. Together, they aim to build a next-generation intelligent mobility service system defined by greater safety, efficiency, and quality.
This partnership represents a deep operational collaboration combining the strengths of a leading autonomous driving company and a major taxi operator. Pony.ai will contribute its core technological capabilities in autonomous driving systems, product development, user operations, and intelligent fleet scheduling. Shenzhen Xihu Group, in turn, will bring its extensive experience in vehicle and asset operations, safety management, and service assurance. The joint effort is designed to deliver a safe, comfortable, and efficient autonomous ride-hailing service to Shenzhen residents.
Pony.ai has been deeply rooted in Shenzhen for five years. It was the first company to receive a pilot permit for commercial operation of autonomous vehicles in the city's core urban areas. Looking ahead, Pony.ai plans to work more closely with transport companies to explore a "light asset operation + AI empowerment" model, accelerating the deployment of high-level autonomous driving systems at scale.
Shenzhen Xihu Group, a pioneer in Shenzhen's transition from oil-fueled to electric taxis, is a flagship enterprise in the city's taxi sector. Operating a fleet of nearly 5,000 electric taxis, it ranks among the largest battery electric vehicle transport service providers globally and boasts robust offline operational expertise and fleet management capabilities.
By pooling their respective resources and strengths, Pony.ai and Shenzhen Xihu Group will explore a new business model that deeply integrates autonomous driving technology with traditional taxi operations. The initiative aims to lead Shenzhen's mobility sector into a new era—moving from oil-fueled vehicles to electrification, and now from electrification to intelligent transportation. It also supports Shenzhen's goal of becoming a national benchmark for high-quality development in intelligent connected vehicles, while driving growth across the city's high-end smart vehicle supply chain.
