AUGUSTASIA BUSINESS OUTLOOK9ONEPLUS PARTNERS WITH BPL TO MANUFACTURE TABLETS IN INDIAPONY.AI ON TRACK FOR 1,000 ROBOTAXIS IN 2025 DESPITE LOSSESNEWSROOMNEWSROOMOnePlus has joined hands with Bhagwati Products Limited (BPL) to produce its high-end tablet line locally in India, the company's next big move in localisation.The company confirmed that the OnePlus Pad 3 and OnePlus Pad Lite are being produced at BPL's Greater Noida facility now.The partnership follows a previous partnership between OnePlus and Optiemus to manufacture IoT devices in India and falls under the Project Starlight initiative by the brand, which is meant to increase local manufacturing, sales, and services.BPL, which specializes in the production of devices for the former Micromax brand, views the tie-up as an extension of its capabilities to new product segments. Vikas Jain, Co-Founder, Bhagwati Products Limited said, "We are thrilled to partner with OnePlus for its new line of tablets. With our fast-evolving manufacturing capabilities and expanding pool of specialists, we are happy to provide value and precision. This milestone not only signifies the inclusion of OnePlus as part of our customer base but also the arrival of a new form factor to our manufacturing capability.""Partnership with BPL is a strategic landmark in our journey in India to enhance our manufacturing strength and extend our connected ecosystem. Localizing the production of tablets not only reaffirms our dedication to India, but also helps build significant value for our community of users. This collaboration embodies our vision to innovate in India, invest in India, and grow with India in the long-term." said Robin Liu, CEO, OnePlus India.Industry experts perceive the deal as part of the rising trend of international electronics brands, increasing local production in India to leverage government incentives and consolidate market presence. Pony.ai announced it is still on track to achieve its 2025 goal of delivering 1,000 robotaxi vehicles after introducing over 200 units of its Gen-7 model in the two months since mass production was initiated."We have established a sound foundation for large-scale commercial robotaxi operation," CEO James Peng explained in an earnings call on Aug 12.The company posted Q2 2025 robotaxi services revenue of USD 1.5 million, a 158 percent year-on-year increase.The firm reported a Q2 net loss of USD 53.3 million, up from USD 30.9 million in the same period last year, as research and development spending rose 69 percent to USD 49 million on investments in Gen-7 vehicles.But scaling up operations is still tough. "Most nations, aside from the US and China, are still not prepared for mass deployment. Scaling up from dozens to hundreds of fully autonomous vehicles entails a fundamentally higher level of safety and operation rigour referring to the leap in sophistication as substantial." said CFO Leo Wang, referring to regulatory and market obstacles.Pony.ai accepted that commercializing the industry will be a gradual process, pointing out that existing constraints in global preparedness may hamper a viable fare-charging model. In spite of this, management was optimistic about attaining production targets, with Peng reaffirming that the rollout rate allows the company to reach the 1,000 vehicle target by the end of the year.Industry analysts say Pony.ai's ability to scale while balancing safety and operational efficiency will be key to its long-term success in the increasingly competitive autonomous vehicle market. · OnePlus partners with Bhagwati Products Limited to locally manufacture the OnePlus Pad 3 and Pad Lite at BPL's Greater Noida facility under Project Starlight· Collaboration boosts India's electronics manufacturing ecosystem, aligning with government incentives and strengthening OnePlus's connected product lineup· BPL expands into new product segments, leveraging its evolving manufacturing capabilities and specialist workforce· More than 200 Gen-7 robotaxis deployed since mass production began two months ago, keeping Pony.ai on track for 1,000 units in 2025· Q2 robotaxi revenue up 158 percent year-on-year to USD 1.5 million, driven by expanded operations· Net loss widened to USD 53.3 million as R&D spending jumped 69 percent to USD 49 million for Gen-7 investments
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