Pony.ai and Baidu have received licenses to operate L4 robotaxis in Beijing China, expanding their operations.

Pony.ai’s permit to test its autonomous vehicle technology with a driver was revoked due to the DMV’s concerns about its safety drivers.

Pony.ai will integrate its autonomous technology into GAC vehicles, which can be hailed using Ontime’s platform or Pony.ai’s PonyPilot+ app.

Pony.ai has agreed to recall three of its robotaxis that had specific software involved in an October crash.

While performing a lane change, a Pony.ai autonomous vehicle hit a center divider and traffic sign in Fremont, Calif. Nobody was injured in the accident.

In 2020, autonomous vehicles left other technology applications in the dust. Other areas of robotics receiving funding or merger and acquisition activity included supply chain automation, surgical robots, and quadrupeds.

Pony.ai will be working with China FAW Group on design and manufacturing of its robotaxis and autonomous trucks. The company completed Series C fundraising of $267 million.

In February 2020, companies developing field robotics, which are designed to operate outdoors, joined self-driving car makers and healthcare robotics firms in receiving funding.

The global robotics market will continue to be affected by China’s manufacturing slowdown and trade tensions with the U.S., says international analyst Georg Stieler as he looks ahead to 2020.

Investment into robotics and intelligent systems companies for July 2018 was robust, totaling approximately $1.6B worldwide from 34 investments into the same number of companies. In June 2018, 27 robotics startups raised $2.1 billion. The bulk of the July 2018 investments were made into companies developing software and hardware technologies and products, along with services…