<div id="readability-page-1">Chinese robotaxi firms from Pony AI to WeRide are accelerating global roll-outs of commercial fleets, leveraging cost competitiveness from the country’s world-leading new energy vehicle (NEV) supply chain and improved operational efficiency, company executives have said. China’s NEV supply chain had helped reduce the total cost of Pony AI’s upgraded seventh-generation robotaxi – including the base vehicle, battery and autonomous driving kit – to below 230,000 yuan (US$33,700), making it cheaper than a basic Tesla Model 3, according to James Peng, founder and CEO of the Guangzhou-based robotaxi firm. The Model 3 is the US electric vehicle giant’s most affordable car. “We will push China’s autonomous driving technology to every corner of the world with overwhelming cost competitiveness,” Peng said on Friday, the opening day of the Beijing Auto Show, which runs until May 3. He added that the company’s technological strength had also helped drive down prices, supporting wider adoption of robotaxis. Pony AI’s latest model is set to hit the market next year. Peng described robotaxis as a new mode of transport rather than simply driverless taxis, presenting them as private, safe mobile spaces for work, leisure and daily travel, while enhancing urban mobility.  Cross-town rival WeRide is also making bigger bets on autonomous vehicles. On Monday the company announced one of the industry’s most ambitious plans: to put around 200,000 autonomous vehicles, including robotaxis, on roads worldwide over the next five years through a deepened tie-up with technology powerhouse Lenovo Group. WeRide did not give a breakdown on how many robotaxis would be included by the end of the period, but it earlier said it looked to deploy 2,600 of them worldwide by the end of 2026, compared with Pony AI’s target of 3,000. Autonomous driving was entering a critical phase of commercial deployment, with competition shifting from technological capability to cost efficiency and the ability to scale operations, said Tony Han Xu, founder and CEO of WeRide, in a statement. The large-scale roll-out of Level 4 autonomous vehicles was supported in part by the company’s third-generation high-performance computing platform, which was expected to cut autonomous driving system costs by 50 per cent, according to the statement. In the six levels of vehicle autonomy, Level 4 refers to a stage where human intervention in most circumstances is not required. Chinese robotaxi firms had been expanding overseas in part because local regulators remained cautious about opening up larger areas in tier-one cities for commercial operations, according to Alex Yao, equity analyst at JP Morgan. Yao said in a research note that the industry’s development hinged on hardware cost reduction, algorithm sophistication and government support in terms of operational areas, adding that Chinese-made robotaxis had already reached a commercially viable cost level. The Middle East has emerged as a hub for pilot projects, where local interests and Chinese firms’ expansion plans intersect. Peng acknowledged that while the Middle East conflict had delayed shipments of Pony AI’s vehicles, local partners remained “very committed” to the partnership. </div>

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<p>Chinese robotaxi firms, including Pony AI and WeRide, are rapidly expanding their global fleets, capitalizing on cost advantages from China's advanced new energy vehicle (NEV) supply chain. Pony AI's latest robotaxi model costs under 230,000 yuan (US$33,700), making it cheaper than a Tesla Model 3. Both companies aim to deploy thousands of autonomous vehicles worldwide, with WeRide planning to introduce 200,000 vehicles over five years. The shift in competition is now focused on cost efficiency and operational scalability, as the industry moves towards commercial deployment of Level 4 autonomous vehicles.</p>

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Chinese robotaxi firms accelerate global roll-outs as cost edge drives expansion