Autonomous vehicle technology firm Pony.ai has partnered with Tencent Cloud, a division of Tencent Holdings Ltd, to fast-track the deployment of Robotaxi services across China by leveraging Tencent’s cloud infrastructure and digital ecosystem, the companies said on Thursday.
The strategic alliance aims to enhance Pony.ai’s autonomous driving systems by integrating with Tencent’s platforms, including Weixin (WeChat), Tencent Maps, and its cloud computing and AI technologies. As part of the partnership, Pony.ai’s Robotaxi services will be accessible through Weixin’s “Mobility Services” and Tencent Maps, expanding the reach of its intelligent transport offerings.
“Tencent’s ecosystem unlocks new opportunities, bringing Robotaxi services closer to users and accelerating commercial deployment,” said Pony.ai CEO Dr. James Peng in a statement. Tencent Vice President Xiangping Zhong added, “Pony.ai’s leadership in autonomous driving, paired with our strengths, marks the start of a long-term innovation journey.”
The collaboration will also focus on improving Pony.ai’s simulation and virtual testing platform, PonyWorld, which models complex urban scenarios for autonomous system training. By using Tencent’s big data and AI capabilities, Pony.ai aims to improve vehicle performance, safety, and the in-car experience, including infotainment features.
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Pony.ai, backed by Toyota, has been expanding its Robotaxi operations in China and the U.S., and the new partnership comes amid increasing efforts to commercialize autonomous vehicles in urban mobility markets. The companies said they will co-develop a high-performance simulation and testing platform to ensure the vehicles can navigate a wide range of driving conditions.