GAC starts mass-producing Level 4 robotrucks in China

GAC Commercial Vehicle rolled its first mass-production T9 Robotrucks off the line on Oct. 29 at its Conghua district plant in Guangzhou, carrying a Level 4 self-driving system from Pony.ai. The companies plan road tests in 2027 with T9s in use by the hundreds, then will explore selling, leasing or freight services in 2028-2029 with production targets in the thousands, according to Jiemian and Guangzhou Daily. Pony.ai said the truck's sensor kit of nine lidars, three radars and 13 cameras costs 70% less than its previous generation, and its robotruck revenue rose 36.0% year over year to US$23.5 million in the first half of 2026.

Autonomous fleets https://asia-tech-news.ghost.io/tag/topic-autonomous-fleets/ GAC starts mass-producing Level 4 Pony.ai robotrucks Road tests are planned for 2027, but sales or leasing won't take place until 2028. GAC Commercial Vehicle 广汽领程 , the commercial-vehicle arm of GAC Group 广汽集团 , rolled its first mass-production T9 Robotrucks off the line on Oct. 29 at its plant in Guangzhou's Conghua district. The battery-electric heavy truck carries a Level 4 L4 self-driving system from Pony.ai 小马智行 , a Chinese robotaxi and robotruck company, built to drive with no human driver in set conditions. No report we read gave a count or named a buyer. The first trucks go into testing and operation, aimed at long-haul, dedicated-route and port freight, Guangzhou Daily 广州日报 reported https://news.dayoo.com/finance/202610/29/171077 55018105.htm?ref=asia-tech-news.ghost.io . The companies plan road tests in 2027, aiming for T9s in use by the hundreds. In 2028-2029 they will explore selling or leasing the trucks or offering freight services, and aim for production in the thousands, Jiemian 界面新闻 reported https://www.jiemian.com/article/15263214.html?ref=asia-tech-news.ghost.io . Pony.ai https://pony.ai/?ref=asia-tech-news.ghost.io supplies the truck with a kit of nine lidars, three radars and 13 cameras whose parts cost 70% less than its previous generation's, it said when it unveiled the truck https://blog.pony.ai/pony-ai-unveils-new-gen-4-robotruck-in-collaboration-with-gac-commercial-vehicle/?ref=asia-tech-news.ghost.io in September. GAC Group https://www.gacgroup.com/en?ref=asia-tech-news.ghost.io and Pony.ai have worked together on robotaxis since 2018, and GAC Commercial Vehicle https://www.gaccv.com/?ref=asia-tech-news.ghost.io signed an agreement with Pony.ai in April to extend the partnership to trucks. The T9 is one model in Pony.ai's fourth-generation robotruck line, which has entered mass production, the company said in its interim report https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001969302/000110465926109772/tm2625374d1 ex99-1.pdf?ref=asia-tech-news.ghost.io for the six months to June 30. The report doesn't say which model, but driverless trucks from that line already work commercially at Mawan Port in Shenzhen, alongside human-driven vehicles. Pony.ai's robotruck revenue rose 36.0% from a year earlier to US$23.5 million in the first half, mostly because of growth in its freight services, the company said. Driver-assistance systems are already in commercial service on China’s long-haul truck routes, but they are a different class of technology: Level 2 systems, which assist a driver who stays at the wheel and remains responsible for the vehicle. ZYT 卓驭科技 , a Shenzhen maker of such systems, says several hundred trucks with its Level 2 highway assistance now run long-haul express routes, as we reported https://asia-tech-news.ghost.io/only-one-of-zyts-seven-vehicle-partners-has-trucks-running/ . Pony.ai’s L4 trucks — built to drive themselves within approved areas — numbered in the hundreds on routes across China in September, IT Home IT之家 reported https://www.ithome.com/1/002/291.htm?ref=asia-tech-news.ghost.io , most still carrying a human safety driver, with some running fully driverless. Sources: 界面新闻 Jiemian , 广州日报 Guangzhou Daily , Pony.ai , Pony AI Inc. 2026 interim report SEC Form 6-K exhibit , 盖世汽车 Gasgoo 1 , 2 , IT之家 IT Home Editor: Ian Lamont