Hellobike launches robotaxi firm with Ant Group, CATL

Hellobike, a bike-sharing platform in China, has partnered with Ant Group and CATL to create a new robotaxi company.

The announcement was made on Monday, June 23, 2025.

The three companies have invested over 3 billion yuan (US$417.4 million) in the venture.

The firm, registered in Shanghai, will focus on developing Level 4 autonomous driving technology and its safe application and commercialization.

🔗 Source: Reuters

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ China’s strategic robotaxi push accelerates through cross-sector partnerships

This new venture joins a rapidly expanding Chinese robotaxi ecosystem that’s already showing global leadership.

Baidu’s Apollo Go has completed over 11 million rides, surpassing Waymo’s 10 million, demonstrating China’s competitive position in autonomous vehicle deployment1.

The partnership model, combining Hellobike’s mobility expertise, CATL’s battery technology, and Ant Group’s fintech capabilities, reflects a collaborative approach in China’s autonomous vehicle sector. Baidu’s collaboration with Kinglong and other companies to develop the Apolong autonomous bus serves as an example of how partnerships have been leveraged effectively in this space2.

Goldman Sachs projects that 500,000 robotaxis will operate across more than 10 Chinese cities by 2030, highlighting the substantial market opportunity this new venture is targeting3.

The focus on Level 4 autonomous driving aligns with industry standards, where vehicles can operate without human oversight in specific conditions. Baidu’s Apolong bus, which began mass production in 2017, also falls under this classification2.

2️⃣ Building on established relationships rather than starting from scratch

This robotaxi venture isn’t a spontaneous collaboration but builds on existing partnerships between these three companies.

CATL, Ant Group, and Hellobike signed a strategic cooperation agreement earlier in 2025 focused on integrating digital technology and sustainable operations in the mobility sector4.

The companies have previously worked together on battery-swapping ventures for electric bikes, demonstrating their ability to collaborate effectively before tackling the more complex robotaxi market4.