Toyota-backed startup Pony.ai raises US$267m in new funding round

[SHANGHAI] Pony.ai, backed by Toyota Motor, said on Friday it raised US$267 million in the initial phase of its latest funding round at US$5.3 billion valuation, as the self-driving startup seeks to boost its presence in the United States and China.

The latest funding, which comes just eight months after the company's US$462 million fundraising, makes Pony.ai one of the most valuable independent autonomous driving startups, with higher valuation than rivals Aurora and Nuro, according to data provider Pitchbook.

The investment comes at a time when global automakers, technology firms, startups and investors - including Tesla, Alphabet's Waymo and Uber - are pouring capital into developing self-driving vehicles.

The funding was led by Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board's (Ontario Teachers') Teachers' Innovation Platform (OTPP), Pony.ai said in a statement.

Fremont-based Pony.ai, which is also backed by Sequoia Capital China and Beijing Kunlun Tech, plans to use the funding to develop technology and expand its fleet.

Pony.ai started developing its autonomous truck technologies by early 2019, chief executive James Peng told Reuters.

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The company tests its vehicles in Fremont, Irvine, and in Chinese cities of Guangzhou and Beijing and also recently launched an operation site in Shanghai.

The firm is showcasing its autonomous Lexus sport-utility vehicle and an FAW's truck at the China International Import Expo, or CIIE, an annual import show in Shanghai that started on Wednesday and runs into the next week.

Pony.ai also recently received investment from state-owned automaker FAW Group and will jointly develop autonomous cars and trucks.

REUTERS