NUMBER OF THE DAY
That’s how sharp Pony.ai’s shares slide on their first trading day in Hong Kong. Fellow contender WeRide (-12%) rolled down south as well.
🚦 False start on the stock track: Fresh capital (Pony.ai: HK$ 6.71 bn, WeRide: HK$ 2.39 bn) met falling prices. The duo’s decline signals investor skepticism over profitability, licensing, and fierce competition.
🤖 Scaling over comfort: Pony.ai cut production costs by 70% with its seventh-generation model and targets profitability at 50,000 robotaxis. With 726 vehicles today, it still has a long road and heavy cash burn ahead.
Watch: In China, Baidu’s Apollo Go leads the pack, while Pony.ai and WeRide are seeking growth abroad. Hong Kong listings open doors to mainland capital, but new U.S. rules are slowing Chinese auto-tech. The key question now: can these pilot programs turn into sustainable, profitable businesses?
The China Survival Guide for Western Businesses
Entity setup, WeChat strategy, hiring your first local team. 12+ years on the ground in Shanghai.
