Pony.ai and China's SAIC AI Lab to Develop Fully Driverless EV Robotaxi

Pony.ai, an autonomous driving technology company, is collaborating with SAIC AI Lab, a division of SAIC Motor, China’s largest auto manufacturer to jointly explore and advance driverless technology. They have launched a concept vehicle based on the SAIC Marvel R model and will build out a fleet of autonomous vehicles equipped with Pony.ai’s L4-level driverless solutions.

The concept car utilises 17 integrated automotive-grade sensors to create a 360-degree visual range covering 200 meters, eliminating blind spots around the vehicle.

The vehicle also features an intelligent cockpit featuring a foldable steering wheel that provides a human-machine interaction (HMI) experience that significantly advances automobile autonomy.

The two companies willcollaborate on automotive chassis, intelligent cockpit, HMI, remote assistance, and other intelligent driving technologies.

This mass-produced, purpose-built vehicle ids designed to accelerate the widespread commercial adoption of robotaxi services and autonomous driving technology across multiple cities in China.

n July 2021, Pony.ai launched its robotaxi services in Shanghai’s Jiading District, which covers the main urban sections of Jiading, and in November 2021, Pony.ai further expanded the scale of its PonyPilot+ service and fleet to the public in Shanghai.

James Peng, Pony.ai co-founder and CEO, says: “SAIC is a world-class automotive company, and Pony.ai is a leader in autonomous driving technology. Together we will break through tech boundaries and accelerate the development of driverless technology and promote and advance the application of driverless technology,” said James Peng, Pony.ai co-founder and CEO.

“Pony.ai is a global leader in autonomous driving. SAIC AI Lab has mature technical strengths in driverless operation, vehicle development, and intelligent cockpit. Its robotaxi project has been affirmed by the market. It is believed that the cooperation between the two companies will accelerate commercialization progress, upgrade mobility services, and advance the establishment of intelligent urban transportation,” adds Dang Xiang, General Manager of SAIC AI Lab.

Pony.ai has formed partnerships with leading OEMs, including Toyota, SAIC, SANY, FAW Group, GAC Group, etc.

To date, Pony.ai has driven 9.3 million autonomous testing and operation miles worldwide.