(Yicai) April 25 -- Chinese self-driving tech startup Pony.ai has joined hands with Tencent Holdings to make use of the internet giant’s mobile apps in speeding up the commercialization of its robotaxi services.

Tencent’s apps, which includes WeChat, China's most widely used social media platform, and Tencent Maps, will integrate Pony.ai's robotaxi services, the Guangzhou-based autonomous driving firm said today. The robotaxis will also tap the apps to enhance the in-car user experience.

In addition, the pair will work together on developing Level 4 self-driving technologies and the market operation of robotaxis. Tencent will contribute its strengths in cloud computing, big data, and artificial intelligence to help Pony.ai build an efficient research, development, and testing platform that can support the large-scale training of L4 models.

Founded in 2016, Pony.ai is working on commercializing advanced self-driving tech. Through partnerships with several automakers, the firm is already trialing robotaxi services in China’s four first-tier cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen.

Pony.ai unveiled its seventh-generation driving system and robotaxi fleet at the Shanghai Auto Show that kicked off on April 23. It is also showcasing autonomous-driving vehicles co-developed with Japan's Toyota Motor and China's BAIC Motor and GAC Group.

Following this, the company's stock price [NASDAQ: PONY] has surged 82 percent to USD7.57 in the past two days. Pony.ai went public on the Nasdaq last November, raising USD452 million.

Pony.ai expects to break even by 2028 or 2029, depending on the number of robotaxis it deploys for commercial operation, Chief Executive Peng Jun said in an interview with the media at the motor show.

Last year, Pony.ai's net loss widened 120 percent to USD275 million, mainly because of higher R&D spending. Revenue rose 4 percent to USD75 million, but only USD7.3 million came from its robotaxi services business, with the rest generated by its self-driving truck and tech licensing businesses.

Editor: Futura Costaglione