ComfortDelGro Corporation Limited announced Tuesday that its subsidiary, ComfortDelGro (China) Pte. Ltd., has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Hello Robotaxi to collaborate on large-scale commercial Robotaxi deployment in China and overseas markets.

The duo said in a statement that the collaboration will focus on deploying and managing Robotaxi services through ComfortDelGro’s extensive point-to-point operations, tapping on its deep fleet management experience and physical assets such as electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and energy storage solutions across its global network.

Hello Robotaxi will contribute its leading autonomous driving technology, vehicles, and data from its large user base for precise user acquisition.

The collaboration will see the establishment of an intelligent dispatching system for a hybrid operational model, enhancing operational efficiency of the transport ecosystem and overall user experience.

The partnership will also explore complementary new business areas, including car rental, battery swapping, safety officer training, grid management and maintenance.

With one of the world’s largest international taxi networks, and autonomous vehicle pilot programs in Singapore and Guangzhou, ComfortDelGro has extensive operational experience and deep fleet management capabilities.

Hello Robotaxi, one of China’s leading mobility technology firms backed by Alibaba, Ant Group and CATL, focuses on L4-level autonomous driving research and development as well as commercial application.

It unveiled its first mass-produced robotaxi in September and will begin commercial operations in up to ten cities (including its first overseas city) with a roadmap to scale its fleet to over 10,000 vehicles by 2026.

“This partnership strengthens our technological ecosystem and underscores the importance of collaboration in next-generation mobility. It is a significant step in developing our autonomous vehicle capabilities and securing our long-term position in the future of point-to-point mobility,

“By creating an integrated intelligent shared mobility network—blending our taxi business with Robotaxi services—we are building a robust, replicable, and forward-looking hybrid operating model that can be scaled across our global network,” said Cheng Siak Kian, Group Chief Executive Officer of ComfortDelGro.

Meanwhile, Yang Lei, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Hello Group, said by combining Hello Robotaxi’s 800 million users and L4 autonomous technology with ComfortDelGro’s expertise in fleet management, they aim to effectively scale Robotaxi operations from technical development to large-scale deployment.

“We will start with the intelligent dispatching of traditional taxis and Robotaxis, using existing assets to optimize efficiency and user experience to the fullest, then replicate this model in other markets, eventually building an integrated intelligent mobility network,

“We look forward to deepening our collaboration with ComfortDelGro and jointly securing a long-term, leading position in the global smart mobility sector,” he added.

This strategic collaboration is in line with ComfortDelGro’s core strategy of developing new capabilities in autonomous vehicles.

The group has been building its AV capabilities since establishing its Autonomous Vehicle Center of Excellence in 2022, leveraging its expertise in fleet operations, safety management, EV charging stations and maintenance to lead the responsible deployment of driverless technologies.

ComfortDelGro partners Pony.ai to roll out autonomous shuttle in Singapore