Chinese autonomous driving startup Pony.ai and German megasupplier Bosch's Automotive Aftermarket division in North America are teaming up to develop and test a maintenance and repair system for future AV fleets.
The partnership, announced Wednesday, capitalizes on Bosch's Car Service network, which provides automotive repair and maintenance through independent operators. The network has more than 20,000 locations across the world, more than 1,000 of which are in North America.
As vehicles become more automated, fixed operations require service technicians with expertise in self-driving technology.
Bosch and Pony.ai started a pilot of their robotaxi fleet maintenance program at an undisclosed Bosch Car Service location in the San Francisco Bay area in July, according to the statement.
The companies are testing "the readiness and operational efficiency to steer a fully autonomous multiplatform fleet," the statement said.
"High operational ef…