- Press Release
- 31 Jul 2024
ComfortDelGro And Pony.ai to Collaborate on Large-Scale Commercial Robotaxi Operations
- ComfortDelGro and Pony.ai to form a strategic partnership for large-scale commercial robotaxi operations first in China and subsequently in other key international markets
- ComfortDelGro is a leading multimodal mobility operator with a global taxi network of over 29,000 vehicles
- Pony.ai is a leader in the commercialisation of autonomous driving, launching proven autonomous driving products on a global scale
SINGAPORE, 31 July 2024 – Today, ComfortDelGro Corporation Limited (“ComfortDelGro” or “the Group”) a leading multimodal transport operator, and Pony.ai, a global autonomous mobility company, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to form a strategic partnership for largescale commercial robotaxi operations.
With an international taxi network of over 29,000 vehicles worldwide, ComfortDelGro has extensive operational experience and strong fleet management capabilities. As an autonomous driving solutions innovator, Pony.ai leads the city-level deployment of fully autonomous driving technology and services in China, and has received permits to operate fully autonomous driving mobility services in all of China’s Tier-1 cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen.
This collaboration showcases an innovative industry cooperation model, driven by the large-scale deployment of autonomous driving vehicles. It presents an excellent platform for both companies to co-develop tailored safe and sustainable autonomous vehicle (AV) solutions for future deployment in different international markets.
The MoU was signed this morning in Guangzhou at the 14th Singapore-Guangdong Collaboration Council meeting co-chaired by Singapore’s Minister of Health, Mr Ong Ye Kung, and Guangdong Governor, Mr Wang Weizhong.
ComfortDelGro Managing Director/Group CEO, Mr Cheng Siak Kian said: “We believe that AV technology will help in alleviating global driver shortage and meeting the transport demand of underserved areas. Pony.ai’s success with robotaxis deployment in major Chinese cities is a strong testament to their capabilities. With this partnership, we can explore the commercialisation of robotaxis operations first in China and subsequently in our other key markets.”
Pony.ai Co-Founder and CEO, Dr James Peng said: “As autonomous driving enters the commercialisation era, this collaboration will generate momentum for the rapid growth of the global autonomous vehicle industry and the popularisation of autonomous vehicle technology. ComfortDelGro has over 20 years of experience in transportation, with operations spanning 12 countries. Our collaboration will create new possibilities for the future of mobility and will extend
the benefits of autonomous driving to a wider audience and to more regions, creating value to
more people and societies.”
This latest collaboration marks a significant step in ComfortDelGro’s ongoing journey of building future capabilities as part of its wider growth strategy. In 2022, the Group established a S$30 million Autonomous Vehicle Centre of Excellence (AV CoE) which focuses on developing capabilities for AV operations, maintenance, and building a technology platform for future AV based mobility services.
This collaboration also represents the latest milestone in Pony.ai’s global expansion of its technology. The company has already initiated autonomous driving partnerships and technological deployment in South Korea, Luxembourg, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Media Contact Information:
Group Corporate CommunicationsComfortDelGro Corporation Limited
[email protected]
Pony.ai
[email protected]
About ComfortDelGro Corporation
ComfortDelGro is a leading multi-modal transport operator offering a comprehensive suite of transportation solutions. Our extensive network spans public transport including buses and rail, point-to-point transport with taxis and private hire cars as well as business-to-business mobility solutions. Every day, millions rely on our services across 12 countries including; Singapore, Australia, the United Kingdom (UK), New Zealand, China, Ireland, France, Malaysia, Spain, Portugal, Greece, and the Netherlands.
As a global operator, we play an important role in steering the transition towards a low-carbon economy. With nearly half our fleet consisting of cleaner energy vehicles, we support governments and cities in enabling inclusive and sustainable transport systems. For our efforts, ComfortDelGro has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices Asia Pacific (DJSI Asia Pacific) since 2019, the only Singaporean transport company in the index.
About Pony.ai
Leading global autonomous driving company Pony.ai, Inc. (“Pony.ai”) is pursuing an ambitious vision for autonomous mobility. We aim to bring safe, sustainable, and accessible mobility to the entire world. We believe that autonomous technology can make our roads exponentially safer for people. Founded in late 2016, Pony.ai has been a pioneer in extending autonomous mobility technologies and services at a rapidly expanding footprint of sites around the world. Pony.ai has formed partnerships with leading OEMs, including Toyota, SAIC, SANY, FAW Group, GAC Group, etc. As of July, Pony.ai has driven over 35 million autonomous testing and operation kilometres (over 21.7 million miles) on open roads worldwide.