Chinese startup Pony.ai studies first robotaxi hearth, no accidents

BEIJING — One of Pony.ai‘s robotaxis stuck hearth for the primary time on Tuesday, and not using a other people harmed within the incident, the U.S.-listed Chinese startup instructed CNBC.

The corporate didn’t reveal the explanation in the back of the hearth. Videos purporting to turn the incident in Beijing had circulated on social media. CNBC may just no longer independently check this pictures.

Electric vehicles akin to the ones from Tesla, which is attempting to expand its personal robotaxi, have prior to now stuck blaze.

Pony.ai stated that certainly one of its absolutely self-driving automobiles used to be detected as having an unusual standing in Beijing round 9:30 a.m. native time on May 13.

The corporate operates its vehicles the usage of tool that may be centrally monitored.

There had been no passengers on board on the time of the incident, and the car mechanically initiated an emergency prevent, leading to no collisions or accidents, Pony.ai stated. It famous that provider employees arrived inside two mins of receiving the alert.

“During the handling process, the vehicle caught fire,” Pony.ai stated. “The on-site staff coordinated with relevant authorities to execute containment measures, safely and effectively resolved the incident. The specific cause is currently under investigation.”

Shares of Pony.ai fell greater than 10% in a single day. The inventory is up greater than 25% for the 12 months up to now.

The corporate in overdue April introduced it used to be operating with Toyota, Beijing’s BAIC and GAC’s Aion for brand spanking new robotaxi automobiles that the corporate claimed can minimize prices through 70%. 

Chinese vehicles corporations have increasingly more ramped up pageant with U.S. opponents, with China-made electrical vehicles impulsively turning into dominant avid gamers within the home marketplace on the expense of Tesla and standard overseas automakers.