CaoCao appointed Joseph Sifakis, a Turing Award laureate and renowned AI scientist, as Chief Scientific Advisor of the CaoCao AI Innovation Center on June 29. He will provide core academic support and strategic roadmap guidance for CaoCao’s transformation into an AI-native company. This appointment marks Sifakis’s first in-depth involvement in shaping the AI strategy of a Chinese technology company.

Professor Sifakis is a pioneer in trustworthy artificial intelligence and complex systems. His research focuses on the safety, reliability, and verifiability of complex intelligent systems, with applications in aerospace and industrial control. His expertise aligns with CaoCao’s development needs for Robotaxi and autonomous driving technologies, offering theoretical guidance for building a physical AI mobility technology platform.

Shawn Gong, CEO of CaoCao, stated that the appointment reflects recognition from the international scientific community of CaoCao’s AI direction. He emphasized that the company will leverage world-class academic resources to strengthen its capabilities in AI and autonomous driving. The collaboration aims to reinforce the foundations of intelligent mobility development and accelerate the integration of AI with future mobility scenarios.

CaoCao recently launched its full-scale AI transformation and unveiled its RoboX strategy. The goal is to build a globally leading physical AI mobility technology platform and an intelligent mobility network. This network will span diverse applications, including Robotaxi and Robovan.

The RoboX ecosystem integrates intelligent purpose-built vehicles, intelligent driving technologies, and intelligent operations. CaoCao is accelerating the development of capabilities for large-scale autonomous driving operations through this full-capability, closed-loop system.

CaoCao Inc. has partnered with K2, an Abu Dhabi government-owned AI technology company, to deploy its first Robotaxi fleet in the UAE this year. The agreement marks a significant step in CaoCao’s global expansion under its RoboX strategy, targeting large-scale commercial deployment of autonomous vehicles. Local testing and validation activities will commence in Abu Dhabi in 2026, leveraging K2’s local resources and infrastructure to facilitate safe and efficient operations.

As Geely Holding Group’s primary commercialization platform for RoboX, CaoCao aims to build a globally leading physical AI mobility technology platform. The company plans to deploy a cumulative total of 100,000 Robotaxis and 100,000 Robovans by 2030, accelerating the transition from demonstration applications to large-scale operations. Recently, CaoCao unveiled China’s first purpose-built Robotaxi, scheduled for mass production in 2027.

Strategic Partnerships and Expansion

The partnership with K2 follows CaoCao’s strategic cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, signaling an accelerated implementation phase in the Middle East. K2 will provide access to testing environments, operational infrastructure, and critical resources, while CaoCao will contribute intelligent purpose-built vehicles, technical support, and professional training. Together, the parties aim to develop Abu Dhabi’s Robotaxi service system and explore broader cooperation in autonomous driving across more regions.

CaoCao has also entered into a strategic partnership with Farizon Auto to advance the large-scale application of Robovan models such as the Shentong T6. Additionally, a framework cooperation agreement with Douyin Group focuses on integrating AI-powered mobility services and in-vehicle music content recommendations.

Operational Targets and Infrastructure

CaoCao has developed scalable capabilities in fleet dispatching, asset management, and compliance operations, anchored by the CaoCao Robo OS. This system provides an end-to-end solution spanning demand understanding, supply-demand matching, and service fulfillment. The company is also developing an intelligent hybrid dispatching system, an AI Super Brain for Operations, and Green Intelligent Mobility Hubs.

The RoboX strategy focuses on three core pillars: intelligent driving technologies, intelligent purpose-built vehicles, and intelligent operations. CaoCao is reconfiguring its organizational structure around AI and increasing investment in talent and resources. The company’s ride-hailing business has maintained steady growth, with improving operational efficiency and profitability providing a solid foundation for its AI transformation.