Pony.ai and BAIC BJEV expanded their strategic partnership on January 10, 2026, accelerating global robotaxi commercialization. The autonomous driving specialist and Chinese EV manufacturer aim to scale Level 4 autonomous technology from pilot programs to sustainable commercial operations.
The companies will jointly develop purpose-built robotaxi models, optimizing vehicle architectures and cabin systems for autonomous operations. Their collaboration extends across the entire mobility value chain, including user acquisition, fleet operations, and vehicle maintenance services.
BAIC BJEV brings manufacturing expertise and supply chain capabilities that could reduce autonomous vehicle production costs. As one of China's leading EV manufacturers, the company provides mature OEM-grade supply chain infrastructure critical for scaling robotaxi fleets.
Pony.ai operates autonomous driving services in eight countries, including Luxembourg, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, and South Korea. The partnership plans to introduce the jointly developed Arcfox Alpha T5 Robotaxi to European and Middle Eastern markets.
The companies have already produced more than 600 Arcfox Alpha T5 Robotaxi units since their partnership began in 2024. These vehicles currently operate commercially in Beijing and Shenzhen, with the model debuting at the Shanghai Auto Show.
"This expanded partnership reflects a shared commitment to moving autonomous driving from technical readiness to large-scale commercial reality," said Ning Zhang, Vice President of Pony.ai.
Guofu Zhang, Vice General Manager of BAIC Group and Chairman of BAIC BJEV, stated the collaboration aims to "build a more efficient and sustainable intelligent mobility ecosystem with global competitiveness."
Since 2024, the companies have invested nearly RMB 1 billion in autonomous driving research, development, and commercialization. The expanded partnership involves additional capital investment for technology development and overseas expansion initiatives.
The collaboration establishes a scalable foundation for large-scale robotaxi deployment while exploring future applications of Pony.ai's autonomous driving technology in passenger vehicle programs. The initiative focuses on reducing bill of materials costs and improving vehicle performance, maintenance efficiency, and lifecycle management.
Level 4 autonomous driving represents the highest commercially viable automation level, capable of handling all driving tasks without human intervention in defined operational domains. The partnership targets systematic challenges in scaling this technology from limited pilots to sustainable commercial operations worldwide.
