China's DiDi Autonomous Driving & GAC Aion to Mass Produce SUV Robotaxis by 2025

DiDi Autonomous Driving, the self-driving technology arm of China's DiDi Global, has announced that Andi Technology Co., Ltd., the joint venture with GAC Aion New Energy Automobile Co., Ltd., will mass produce fully self-driving electric Robotaxis by 2025.

The joint venture will roll out a crossover electric SUV as its inaugural model, which is built on GAC Aion's latest high-end pure electric AEP 3.0 platform and the X-soul electrical and electronic architecture.

The model will also feature DiDi Autonomous Driving's technology solutions, the safety redundancy system and the latest generation of in-cabin entertainment systems for Robotaxis.

The first batch of the SUV model will be fully compatible with DiDi's automated operation and maintenance center, Huiju Port.

Once completed, the model is expected to be integrated into DiDi's shared mobility network for large-scale mixed dispatching.

Headquartered in Guangzhou, Andi is led by chairman Zhang Xiong, who is also the deputy general manager of GAC Aion, and general manager Meng Xing, the Chief Operating Officer of DiDi Autonomous Driving.

Meng Xing, COO of DiDi Autonomous Driving, says: "The establishment of the joint venture represents a significant step forward in the successful rollout of the first mass-produced vehicle, marking a new phase of productization in the autonomous driving industrr. DiDi is committed to closely collaborating with GAC Aion to accelerate the large-scale commercial deployment of autonomous driving,"

In May 2023, DiDi Autonomous Driving entered an agreement with GAC Aion to set up a joint venture for mass production of electric Robotaxis.