Pony.ai sets up new R&D center in Shenzhen

Beijing (Gasgoo)- Autonomous driving technology company Pony.ai announced that its fifth global R&D center has been located in Shenzhen, commencing a strategic layout and R&D network in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area and further promoting the scale development of autonomous driving R&D and test.

With the establishment of the new Shenzhen center, the company has built a development network covering the so-called four Tier-1 cities in China, namely Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. Those cities have the most complicated scenarios and huge traffic flow and have wide differences in driving habits and weather, which are good for the development for autonomous driving technologies.

Shenzhen is stepping up its efforts in ecosystem, infrastructure and supporting environment for intelligent and connected vehicles. Pony.ai expects to gain strong support in talents, fund, industry and polices in Shenzhen.

Photo credit: Pony.ai

Just a day later, Pony.ai also announced it has entered into partnership with ONTIME, the mobility technology subsidiary of GAC Group. Both parties will combine their competitiveness in autonomous driving and sharing mobility to promote the commercialization of autonomous driving technologies.

In a statement last week, Pony.ai said that it is promoting the stable commercialization of autonomous driving technologies and products, but denied the rumor that it will make vehicles. What its team focuses on is the design of autonomous systems, rather than the design of complete vehicle.