China’s GAC Group announced it will invest US$27 million in self-driving car startup Pony.ai, intended to strengthen collaboration between the two companies and expedite the development of GAC’s automated driving technology.

GAC and Pony.ai have partnered since 2018, following Pony.ai’s undisclosed investment in GAC’s ride-hailing platform, OnTime, in April 2022.

In August GAC, Pony.ai, and Toyota established a joint venture worth a billion yuan (US$139 million) to develop robocars.

Additionally, Pony.ai and WeRide, another self-driving company partly funded by GAC, are preparing to sell shares in the US, pending regulatory approval from Chinese authorities.