Gasgoo Munich- On March 19, Pony.ai officially delivered the first batch of over 100 GAC AION V Robotaxis—equipped with its seventh-generation autonomous driving system—to ONTIME. These vehicles have been integrated into ONTIME's platform, gradually launching mixed operations that combine human-driven ride-hailing with Robotaxi services in Guangzhou and other regions. Simultaneously, the two parties signed a strategic partnership agreement to jointly expand their Robotaxi fleet.
Image Source: Pony.ai
Under the new cooperation framework, Pony.ai will focus on developing its "virtual driver" technology, monetizing through a usage-fee model. ONTIME, for its part, will handle asset ownership, safety assurance, vehicle dispatch, and platform operations.
The latest seventh-generation models feature fully automotive-grade components with a design life of 600,000 kilometers, while the total cost of the autonomous driving kit has fallen 70% from the previous generation. On the user experience front, the vehicles offer Bluetooth unlocking, voice interaction, and pre-trip climate control, with optimized acceleration and deceleration to smooth out the ride.
Robotaxis equipped with this system have already achieved positive unit economics in Guangzhou and Shenzhen. As of March 2026, ONTIME operates roughly 600 Robotaxis across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, covering Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hengqin.
Building on regular operations in Guangzhou's Nansha district since 2022, this deepened cooperation leverages past experience with the sixth-generation Aion LX Plus—including its mixed-traffic qualification—to further drive large-scale operations.
