Hello's Robotaxi unit obtains strategic investment from Alibaba Group

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On September 17, Hello Inc. ("Hello"), a Chinese commute solutions provider, announced that its Robotaxi unit has secured strategic investment from Alibaba Group.

The investment signals a deepening of their existing collaboration, extending into smart driving large models, computing platforms, and Robotaxi operations, with the goal of accelerating commercialization and scaling across the industry.

Going forward, Hello and Alibaba plan to work closely around real-world Robotaxi operations and requirements, aiming to deliver autonomous driving technologies that combine ultra-low costs with high safety, reliability, and availability.

Photo credit: Robotaxi

The two companies will also co-develop foundational AI models in areas such as vision, speech, and language, alongside domain-specific models for smart cockpits. They further intend to explore innovative applications of emerging "world models" in autonomous driving.

Alibaba Cloud will collaborate with Hello on joint R&D, bolstering algorithm development, user experience optimization, and operational efficiency for Hello's Robotaxi fleet.

Alibaba Group CEO Wu Yongming said Hello has accumulated extensive experience and technological know-how in mobility, and Alibaba will leverage its strengths in AI and cloud computing to help accelerate the rollout of large-model and autonomous driving technologies while reshaping the user travel experience.

In June, Hello officially announced its entry into the Robotaxi sector, jointly establishing Zaofu Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. with Ant Group and CATL. The new venture, backed by more than 3 billion yuan in initial funding, is dedicated to developing, securing, and commercializing L4 autonomous driving technologies.

Hello has previously stated that it aims to scale its Robotaxi business within two years. The company is currently working closely with local governments across China and plans to expand internationally, bringing Chinese autonomous driving products and services to global markets.

Hello's Robotaxi division has already assembled a core team of over 200 experts, including top AI and autonomous driving specialists recruited from leading universities and research institutions worldwide. The company plans to continue attracting global talent as it advances large-scale deployment of autonomous driving technologies.