China-based Pony AI announced a strategic partnership with Tencent Cloud and Smart Industries Group (CSIG), the cloud business of Tencent Holding Limited, to advance autonomous driving technology and accelerate the commercialization of Robotaxi services.

This partnership will amplify Pony.ai’s autonomous driving technology by leveraging Tencent’s ecosystem—including Weixin, Tencent Maps and its robust cloud computing, big data and AI infrastructure.

By integrating Pony.ai’s Robotaxi services into Tencent’s Weixin “Mobility Services” platform and its digital mapping tool, Tencent Maps, this partnership will expand user reach. This collaboration will also drive innovation in operational models, product features and in-car infotainment systems to elevate user experience in the Robotaxi sector.

In addition, Pony.ai will leverage Tencent’s core competencies across cloud computing, big data, virtual simulation, and AI to further empower the performance of its proprietary PonyWorld virtual model, enabling it to effectively “coach” the model to better handle real-world challenges.

The collaboration will focus on co-developing a high-performance testing and simulation platform that supports the entire lifecycle of autonomous vehicle development. This creates a solid foundation to allow Pony.ai's autonomous vehicle practice within enhanced virtual environments, thereby improving its adaptability and decision-making precision for extreme scenarios.

Seventh-generation system. Pony AI also recently unveiled its seventh-generation autonomous driving system alongside the first public showcase of the Robotaxi lineup with Toyota, BAIC and GAC at the Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition.

The seventh-generation autonomous driving system features 100% automotive-grade autonomous driving kit (ADK) with an extended product lifecycle, delivering enhanced stability and safety for passengers.

Continuous design optimizations have also reduced a total amount of 70% bill-of-materials (BOM) costs, among which with 80% decrease in autonomous driving computation (ADC) and 68% cut in solid-state LiDAR, in each case compared to its predecessor.

In addition, its modular platform architecture allows seamless adaptation across multiple vehicle models, covering from the three Robotaxi models to Robotruck services down the road.

Pony unveiled three seventh-generation Robotaxi models at the Shanghai Auto Show, developed through strategic partnerships with Toyota, BAIC and GAC. The long-standing collaboration with Toyota has been further strengthened with the launch of the Toyota bZ4X Robotaxi, the first production model featuring Pony.ai’s latest system. The company also launched new BAIC and GAC Robotaxi models: the ARCFOX Alpha T5 and second-generation Aion V, completing the next-generation Robotaxi models’ lineup.