Pony.ai, Toyota co-developed bZ4X Robotaxi set for market deployment in 2025

Beijing (Gasgoo)- On November 5, the seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE) opened in Shanghai, where Pony.ai and Toyota showcased their jointly developed pure-electric bZ4X Robotaxi concept.

Photo credit: Pony.ai

Earlier this year, at Auto China 2024 in Beijing, Pony.ai, Toyota China, and GAC Toyota established a joint venture, with an investment exceeding 1 billion yuan. This partnership aims to advance mass production and large-scale deployment of autonomous driving technology.

The bZ4X Robotaxi, showcased at the CIIE, is the first vehicle introduced by the joint venture and represents Pony.ai's seventh-generation Robotaxi model, initially revealed at the CIIE last year. Production preparations are underway, with a target rollout of 1,000 units in China’s major cities between 2025 and 2026, enabling fully autonomous Robotaxi services.

Pony.ai's Vice President and Head of Robotaxi Operations, Zhang Ning, emphasized that the breakeven point for Robotaxi operations occurs at around 1,000 units. "Beyond this point, adding vehicles reduces per-unit costs and increases gross margins, driving self-sustaining growth," Zhang said. Pony.ai anticipates achieving per-vehicle breakeven in 2025, setting the stage for scaled commercial deployment of Robotaxis.