HelloRide is making a move into autonomous driving.
On June 23, a new company named Zaofu Intelligent Technology was formally registered in Shanghai, according to information obtained by 36Kr. The firm is jointly founded by Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), Ant Group, and HelloRide through their respective investment arms. With a registered capital of RMB 1.288 billion (USD 180.3 million), the company will focus on the R&D, safety applications, and commercialization of Level 4 autonomous driving technology.
The name “Zaofu” refers to a legendary charioteer in ancient Chinese history, known for his exceptional driving skills. The newly formed company is backed by subsidiaries of all three founding parties, which have jointly contributed an initial investment of more than RMB 3 billion (USD 420 million).
The collaboration had been in development for months. In April, the three parties signed a cooperation agreement. Under this pact, they will combine their technological capabilities and resources to co-develop Level 4 autonomous driving systems. The partnership aims to improve the safety and reliability of the technology while accelerating its commercial deployment and supporting ecosystem growth.
Each partner contributes distinct capabilities. HelloRide has spent recent years growing its mobility business and entering overseas markets, while also applying artificial intelligence in transportation. This has paved the way for its move into the robotaxi sector. According to 36Kr, HelloRide has already assembled a core R&D team for its robotaxi unit, drawing talent from AI foundation models and autonomous driving fields. The company plans to continue recruiting top-tier talent.
Ant has been making significant investments in foundational AI, including foundation models, reinforcement learning, and embodied intelligence. Its strength in security and privacy protection may support the development of HelloRide’s autonomous systems.
CATL is advancing the digital transformation of the battery industry. Its leading power cell technology and skateboard chassis design enable deep integration with autonomous driving modules, forming a core component of the system’s safety infrastructure.
It has been repeatedly noted in the media that the next phase of AI involves applying intelligence to the physical world. Within that trend, autonomous driving is often viewed as a key technology for general-purpose physical AI, with Level 4 development drawing particular focus due to its driverless operation. While core innovations are progressing and engineering solutions are becoming more refined, achieving reliable performance across varied environments remains a complex technical hurdle.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This article was written by Ren Cairu for 36Kr.