Automobiles
Chinese startup aims to speed up commercial development of driverless tech
Pony.ai is collaborating with China’s largest auto manufacturer SAIC to develop a fully driverless electric “robotaxi.” (Photo courtesy of Pony.ai)
HONG KONG — Toyota-backed Chinese autonomous driving company Pony.ai is collaborating with China’s largest auto manufacturer SAIC to develop a fully driverless electric “robotaxi,” the company announced Tuesday.
The startup, which has bases in California and Guangzhou and is valued at $8.5 billion, will work with state-owned SAIC’s AI Lab to codevelop a vehicle that allows full automated driving. The vehicle will feature a foldable steering wheel.