Chinese robotaxi expansion
Pony.ai and BAIC BJEV are scaling autonomous taxi fleets
The objective is to establish a standardised, scalable vehicle platform that can be deployed across multiple cities and operating environments.
Pony.ai
Pony.ai and BAIC BJEV are intensifying their cooperation to accelerate the rollout of Level-4 robotaxis. At the centre of the strategy is the Arcfox Alpha T5, designed for large-scale deployment in China and selected international markets.
Pony.ai and BAIC BJEV are deepening their partnership in
autonomous mobility, signalling a clear push towards the large-scale commercialisation of robotaxi services.
The expanded cooperation focuses on moving beyond pilot projects and into
serial production, combining autonomous driving software with automotive-grade
manufacturing capabilities.
Both companies position the collaboration as a response to
the growing demand for scalable, cost-efficient autonomous
transport solutions, particularly in dense urban environments.
A shared roadmap for Level-4 robotaxis
At the core of the partnership is the joint development of
Level-4 autonomous vehicles tailored specifically for ride-hailing and robotaxi
use cases. The focus extends beyond driving functions alone and includes
vehicle architecture, interior layout and operational design, all optimised for
autonomous passenger transport rather than
private ownership.
The objective is to establish a standardised, scalable
vehicle platform that can be deployed across multiple cities and operating
environments. According to the partners, closer integration between vehicle
engineering and autonomous system development is key to reducing complexity and
accelerating deployment timelines.
From pilot fleets to serial production
The cooperation also targets international expansion. While
China remains the primary market, Pony.ai and BAIC BJEV plan to introduce the
Arcfox Alpha T5 in selected regions of Europe and the Middle East. Pony.ai
contributes operational experience gained from autonomous driving programmes
across eight countries, providing a foundation for adapting the platform to different regulatory and traffic environments.
To date, the partners have invested around RMB 1 billion in
autonomous driving development. Further funding rounds are planned to support
technological upgrades, global market entry and new mobility concepts. A
central goal is to bring autonomous vehicles into serial production more
quickly by leveraging BAIC BJEV’s industrial scale and supply-chain
capabilities, particularly to reduce material and operating costs.
Arcfox Alpha T5 in commercial operation
A tangible outcome of the collaboration is the Arcfox Alpha
T5 robotaxi. Since its debut at the Shanghai Auto Show, more than 600 vehicles
have entered commercial operation in Beijing and Shenzhen. The model integrates
Pony.ai’s autonomous driving technology and is designed to improve passenger
acceptance through a more refined ride experience and interior concept.
The Arcfox Alpha T5 is also part of Pony.ai’s
Gen-7 robotaxi fleet, which entered commercial service in multiple Chinese
cities in November 2025. The new generation is built on an updated
hardware platform that, according to the company, reduces system costs for the
autonomous driving stack by around 70 per cent compared with the previous
generation.
By lowering costs while increasing deployment volumes,
Pony.ai and BAIC BJEV aim to push robotaxi services beyond limited trials and
closer to economically viable, large-scale operations — a step that could significantly
reshape urban mobility models in China and
beyond.
