Toyota and Pony.ai launch production of bZ4X robotaxi
The bZ4X is the model with which hybrid and fuel-cell pioneer Toyota ventured into battery-electric drivetrains in 2022. During a technical update in summer 2025, the electric SUV received several improvements, including revised e-axles, and silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductors have since been used in its power electronics. The vehicle is standardly equipped with a 163 kW motor, though a more powerful dual-motor version is also available.
The robotaxi version now entering production in China is not manufactured at Toyota’s Motomachi plant in Japan—where the global-market bZ4X is built—but by Toyota’s joint venture with the Chinese manufacturer GAC, known as GAC Toyota. This facility is located in Guangzhou, alongside GAC’s headquarters.
Toyota and Pony.ai have collaborated on robotaxis for several years. In 2020, Toyota invested $400 million in Pony.ai. In 2023, the partners deepened their cooperation by forming a joint venture aimed at having GAC Toyota produce Toyota-branded battery-electric vehicles that Pony.ai equips with Level 4 autonomous driving technology. This vision is now becoming a reality, with the battery-electric vehicles set to be deployed on Pony.ai’s robotaxi network platform, PonyPilot+.
More than 1,000 robotaxis from GAC Toyota, scheduled for production this year, are set to be gradually introduced into commercial operations in China’s Tier-1 cities: Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen. This expansion will enable Pony.ai to grow its robotaxi fleet to over 3,000 vehicles by the end of the year.
The vehicles are equipped with Pony.ai’s latest seventh-generation (Gen-7) autonomous driving system. According to Pony.ai, its core components fully comply with automotive standards, and the material costs of the autonomous driving system have been reduced by 70% compared to the previous generation. The robotaxis feature a total of 34 sensors, including 9 LiDAR units, 14 cameras, and 4 millimetre-wave radars. This setup enables 360-degree surround visibility and long-range detection of up to 650 metres.
In addition to the Toyota bZ4X, two other models are equipped with the Gen-7 technology: the Arcfox Alpha T5 from BAIC and the Aion V from GAC Aion. The Chinese ride-hailing service Didi is also currently introducing a robotaxi version of the Aion V. Meanwhile, Pony.ai has recently begun collaborating with Stellantis and the ride-hailing service Bolt to bring robotaxi services to Europe—likely as a three-way partnership.
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