Pony.ai, Toyota unveil inaugural cooperative electric Robotaxi concept car at 2023 CIIE

Beijing (Gasgoo)- Chinese autonomous driving solution developer, Pony.ai, in partnership with Toyota, revealed their inaugural co-developed electric Robotaxi concept car at the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) on November 5.

Photo credit: Pony.ai

This groundbreaking vehicle is built on the bZ4X electric vehicle platform produced by GAC Toyota and features the 7th-generation L4 autonomous driving software and hardware system developed by Pony.ai.

The launch of this electric Robotaxi marks the latest milestone following the establishment of a joint venture by Pony.ai, Toyota China, and GAC Toyota in August this year, dedicated to the large-scale deployment of Robotaxi services. The three companies have been collaborating on the development of this vehicle, including design, platform development, and autonomous driving system manufacturing. This Robotaxi will serve as the inaugural vehicle for the joint venture, aiming to drive the mass application of autonomous transportation services.

Pony.ai also intoduced the design and sensor updates for its 7th-generation autonomous driving system, emphasizing a blend of continuity and innovation in design philosophy. The sensors still include a vehicle-grade multisensory setup featuring solid-state LiDAR, cameras, and millimeter-wave radar, enhancing the precision and safety of fully autonomous driving teconology.

Photo credit: Pony.ai

The system focuses on city-scale autonomous driving deployment, aiming to reduce the Bill of Materials (BOM) costs to prepare for commercialization and improve system reliability, meeting automotive industry standards. 

This Robotaxi places significant emphasis on interactions between passengers, the vehicle, and its environment. With its unique light language design on the roof and interactive screens in the front and rear displaying messages like "In Operation," "Vehicle Turning," and "Pulling Over," it enhances interactions with other vehicles and pedestrians, making Robotaxi services more user-friendly and integrated into urban traffic.