Pony.ai Collaborates with Alibaba's Amap Unit to Expand Robotaxi Service in China
- tech360.tv
- Oct 18, 2024
- 2 min read
Pony.ai has partnered with Alibaba's Amap unit to provide robotaxi services in China. The collaboration enables riders in Guangzhou to access Pony.ai's autonomous rides via Amap. Pony.ai has expanded into new cities and partnered with various platforms.
Pony.ai announced that its robotaxi fleet in the Nansha district of Guangzhou, where the company is headquartered, is now accessible through Amap. This collaboration allows riders using Amap in Guangzhou to choose autonomous rides from Pony.ai's fleet within specific areas and service hours. The partnership is anticipated to extend to more cities in the future, although no exact timeline was provided.
Since April 2023, Pony.ai has been operating a robotaxi service in Guangzhou, with additional services available in selected areas of Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen. The company has been forming similar partnerships with various platforms, such as Tencent Holding's WeChat, Alibaba's Alipay, Ruqi Mobility, and Jinjiang Transport, to expand its fleet's reach.
The driverless taxi industry is gaining traction, with key players making significant progress and attracting early adopters. Baidu's Apollo Go robotaxis in Wuhan gained attention earlier this year due to their low fares, which sparked concern among traditional taxi drivers. However, Wang Yunpeng, head of Baidu's Intelligent Driving Group, stated in an internal letter that Apollo Go is on track to become profitable after incurring financial losses.
Tesla recently unveiled its much-anticipated robotaxi in California, eliciting mixed reactions from Chinese customers who compared it to local competitors. Tesla is currently awaiting regulatory approval to operate fully self-driving vehicles on Chinese roads.
Pony.ai, founded in 2016 by former employees of Baidu's self-driving unit, has raised funds from prominent investors including HongShan (formerly Sequoia China), IDG Capital, and China Merchants Capital. Last year, the company received a US$100 million investment from Neom, a Saudi smart city developer.
Source: SCMP
