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news Scmp World 2026-04-27

Chinese Firms Speed Global Rollout of Robotaxis Using Cost Advantage

Chinese robotaxi companies, including Pony AI and WeRide, are expanding their global commercial fleets. This expansion is driven by China's cost-effective new energy vehicle supply chain and improvements in operational efficiency.


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....

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