Pony.ai teams up with Alibaba’s Amap unit to expand robotaxi service in China

Chinese autonomous driving start-up Pony.ai has teamed up with Alibaba Group Holding’s online mapping unit Amap in an accelerated push to roll out robotaxis as the driverless taxi market heats up in China.

Pony.ai said its robotaxi fleet operating in the pilot zone in the Nansha district of Guangzhou, capital of China’s southern Guangdong province where it is based, is now accessible from Amap, the Alibaba-backed online mapping service that also doubles as a ride-hailing platform, according to a post published to its official WeChat public account on Monday. Alibaba owns the Post.

Riders using Amap in Guangzhou will now have the option to select autonomous rides from Pony.ai’s fleet within designated areas and service hours, it said in the post, adding that the tie-up is expected to expand into more cities, without giving a specific timetable.

The company has operated a robotaxi service in the city since April 2023, after receiving permission from local authorities. Outside Guangzhou, it offers the service in designated areas in cities including Beijing, Shanghai and the southern tech hub of Shenzhen.

Pony.ai has been striking similar tie-ups with partners to put its fleet on more apps and services, including social media giant Tencent Holding’s super app WeChat, Alibaba’s payment app Alipay, as well as Ruqi Mobility and Jinjiang Transport, Guangzhou and Shanghai-based ride-hailing platforms, respectively.