Pony AI's stock price soared nearly 13% on Monday. What is the reason behind this? This Chinese autonomous driving company announced an expanded partnership with Sunlight Mobility, opting for a "light asset" model—allowing the partner to handle the financing and manufacturing of Gen-7 autonomous taxis.

Key details: The first batch of fleets will be deployed in Guangzhou by the end of this year, with plans to expand to other cities later. Pony AI doesn't have to worry about manufacturing costs and can focus on technology research and development—this operation is indeed impressive.

However, the company did not disclose the specific impact of this collaboration on revenue and profit, only stating that both parties "share economic benefits and achieve a win-win situation". From a valuation perspective, shifting manufacturing pressure while maintaining cash flow for R&D is standard practice for players in the autonomous driving sector. The ability to negotiate such terms indicates that Pony AI still holds significant influence in the industry.