PONY-W (02026) Partners with SANY Heavy Truck and Dongfeng Liuzhou to Develop Fourth-Generation Autonomous Truck Series

PONY-W (02026) announced a collaboration with SANY Heavy Truck and Dongfeng Liuzhou to jointly develop the fourth-generation autonomous truck series. The new system features a modular design with strong vehicle adaptability. The first two models will be based on SANY Heavy Truck and Dongfeng Liuzhou’s most advanced pure electric platforms, targeting mass production at a scale of thousands of units, with initial operations planned to begin in 2026.

The mass production of this series is expected to accelerate the development and commercialization of autonomous truck technology, driving the industry toward large-scale unmanned commercial operations. PONY-W’s fourth-generation autonomous truck kit will utilize 100% automotive-grade components, with most parts shared with its next-generation Robotaxi kit, reducing the per-vehicle BOM cost by approximately 70% compared to the previous generation.

For example, under the "1+4" platooning model (one manned lead truck followed by four unmanned trucks), operational data from pilot scenarios shows a 29% reduction in per-kilometer freight costs and a 195% increase in freight profits compared to traditional logistics. This will significantly lower costs while improving efficiency and service quality.

The fourth-generation autonomous trucks adopt the same full redundancy design and safety standards as the latest Robotaxi, enhancing the safety and reliability of autonomous freight logistics. The system is designed for a lifespan of 20,000 hours, supporting up to 1 million kilometers of freight operations.

Equipped with a fully redundant steer-by-wire chassis, the trucks feature redundant architectures in six key systems: steering, braking, communication, power supply, computing, and sensors, ensuring safe operation under various conditions. Additionally, the trucks undergo rigorous testing, including electromagnetic compatibility, reliability, extreme heat, and cold resistance, to handle complex road conditions and harsh weather, further improving safety.

China, the world’s largest long-haul trucking market, is rapidly advancing intelligent logistics transformation. Since 2018, PONY-W has been developing autonomous truck technology and now operates a fleet of around 200 autonomous trucks, having transported over 1 billion ton-kilometers of cargo. The company has also secured the first or earliest autonomous truck road test permits and freight transport licenses in multiple regions across China.