Pony.ai Expands Robotaxi Operations Infrastructure With JD.com's Auto Services Unit
Partnership to build a standardized nationwide maintenance network in China, supporting higher fleet availability, lower lifecycle costs and faster multi-city deployment
Pony AI Inc. (“Pony.ai”) (NASDAQ: PONY; HKEX: 2026), a global leader in the large-scale commercialization of autonomous driving technology, today announced a strategic agreement with JD Auto Service, JD.com’s automotive maintenance and services business, to build a standardized and scalable maintenance and spare-parts support system for autonomous vehicle fleets.
The agreement adds an important layer to Pony.ai’s operating infrastructure as the company scales its Robotaxi fleet from more than 1,700 vehicles to a targeted fleet of over 3,500 vehicles across more than 20 cities worldwide by the end of 2026. By connecting its fleet management platform with JD Auto Service’ nationwide network in China, Pony.ai aims to improve vehicle availability, accelerate deployment in new cities and further optimize lifecycle operating costs.
“Robotaxi commercialization is as much an operational challenge as it is a technology challenge,” said Dr. James Peng, Founder and CEO of Pony.ai. “As our fleet grows, vehicle availability, service consistency and lifecycle costs become increasingly important drivers of unit economics. This partnership adds a standardized maintenance layer to our operating platform, helping us scale more efficiently while maintaining the safety and service quality our users expect.”
Building a Repeatable Model for Multi-City Expansion
Under the agreement, JD Auto Service will leverage its platform capabilities and nationwide service network to respond quickly to Pony.ai’s fleet needs, coordinating maintenance capacity and parts resources to help keep more Robotaxis in operation. The collaboration will begin in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen before extending to additional major Chinese cities, with designated service locations, tiered parts inventory and off-peak maintenance capacity designed to reduce turnaround times and minimize disruption to high-frequency fleet operations.
The companies will also jointly develop maintenance procedures for Robotaxis and integrate their systems for work-order dispatch, service tracking, acceptance and settlement. Automating the process from fault reporting through service completion will reduce manual coordination and create a consistent operating standard that can be replicated across cities.
For Pony.ai, access to an established nationwide service network can reduce the need to build a separate maintenance footprint in every new market. This is expected to shorten operational preparation timelines, improve capital efficiency and support faster fleet expansion.
Strengthening Vehicle Availability and Unit Economics
Vehicle availability is a direct contributor to Robotaxi unit economics. Faster maintenance response, reliable parts supply and consistent service standards can reduce downtime, keep more vehicles in revenue-generating operation and improve fleet availability during periods of peak demand.
Pony.ai has achieved Gen-7 Robotaxi unit economics breakeven in both Guangzhou and Shenzhen, supported by lower vehicle costs, growing user demand and continued improvements in operational efficiency. The agreement addresses another component of the cost structure by improving maintenance efficiency and parts procurement throughout the vehicle lifecycle.
As L4 autonomous driving moves toward multi-thousand-vehicle deployment, maintenance is becoming a core commercialization infrastructure. The partnership extends Pony.ai’s ecosystem beyond technology development, vehicle manufacturing and mobility operations, strengthening the operating foundation required to support larger fleets and continued geographic expansion.
About Pony AI Inc.
Pony AI Inc. is a global leader in achieving large-scale commercialization of autonomous mobility. Leveraging its vehicle-agnostic Virtual Driver technology, a full-stack autonomous driving technology that seamlessly integrates Pony.ai's proprietary software, hardware and services, Pony.ai is developing a commercially viable and sustainable business model that enables the mass production and deployment of vehicles across transportation use cases. Founded in 2016, Pony.ai has expanded its presence across China, Europe, East Asia, the Middle East and other regions, ensuring widespread access to its advanced technology.
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Pony.ai: media@pony.ai