(Yicai) July 23 -- Chinese autonomous driving technology developer Pony.ai has partnered with the auto after-sales service unit of Chinese e-commerce giant JD.Com to establish a standardized and scalable operation and maintenance system for robotaxis.

This marks the first time an autonomous driving company teams up with an auto after-market service platform, aiming to accelerate the development of the after-market industry for self-driving vehicles, Beijing-based Pony.ai announced yesterday.

The partnership will leverage the store network of JD Auto Service to establish dedicated maintenance and repair stations for Pony.ai's robotaxi fleet, ensuring that malfunctioning vehicles can be repaired at nearby locations in the shortest time possible, the firm noted.

JD Auto Service will also establish a tiered inventory system for maintenance consumables and parts specifically designed for robotaxis, as well as a dedicated standard operating procedure covering inspection, repair, re-inspection, and vehicle delivery, Pony.ai said, adding that this will create replicable and scalable standards for the industry.

Pony.ai's robotaxi fleet is expected to exceed 3,500 vehicles deployed in over 20 cities worldwide by the end of the year. As of March 31, it had launched commercial operations in six Chinese cities -- Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, and Changsha -- and overseas markets, such as Croatia, Qatar, Singapore, and South Korea.

The collaboration with JD Auto Service's after-market services can provide preliminary support for the rapid launch of Pony.ai's robotaxis in new cities and regions and help the company reduce the total lifecycle costs of robotaxis, including costs related to vehicle inspection, maintenance, and parts procurement, to improve profitability.

In the first quarter, Pony.ai's revenue grew 145 percent to USD34.3 million from a year earlier. Revenue from robotaxi operations surged 395 percent to USD8.6 million, while that from self-driving truck services and the autonomous driving chip business climbed 31 percent and 247 percent, respectively.

However, as the robotaxi business is still in the early stages of commercialization, requiring substantial research and development investment, Pony.ai has not yet achieved profitability in the 10 years since its founding. In the first quarter, its net loss widened 43 percent to USD53.5 million from the same period last year.

Editor: Futura Costaglione