Robo.ai Announces Commercial Vehicle Joint Venture with JW Group and Appoints Chief Industrial Officer

Rhea-AI Summary

Robo.ai (NASDAQ: AIIO) has announced a strategic joint venture with Pakistan's JW Group to establish RoBUS, a commercial vehicle venture headquartered in UAE. The company also appointed River Zhang, former senior executive at NIO, Ford, and Volvo, as Chief Industrial Officer and President of RoBUS.

The joint venture will focus on developing three main product lines: RO1 Green Smart Luxury Coach Series, RO2 Green Smart City Bus Series, and RO3 Premium Business Vehicle Series. Robo.ai will provide capital market support and brand building expertise, while JW Group will contribute manufacturing capacity through its overseas facilities and distribution network of over 400 distributors.

This initiative aligns with UAE's 'We the UAE 2031' national vision and follows Robo.ai's recent investment in Arkreen, a DePIN technology company, positioning their vehicles as part of future intelligent economic ecosystems.

Positive

• Strategic joint venture formation with JW Group expands presence in Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia markets
• Appointment of experienced automotive executive River Zhang with track record of launching 20 vehicle models
• Access to JW Group's extensive network of over 400 distributors
• Development of three distinct green vehicle product lines targeting different market segments

Negative

• Significant capital investment and resources required for new vehicle development and manufacturing
• Complex regulatory compliance needed across multiple regions
• Intense competition in the electric commercial vehicle market

Insights

Automotive Industry Expert

Robo.ai's JV with JW Group establishes strategic foothold in green commercial vehicles across emerging markets with experienced leadership.

The joint venture between Robo.ai and Pakistan's JW Group represents a strategic expansion into the commercial vehicle sector with a focus on emerging markets. The appointment of River Zhang as Chief Industrial Officer brings critical automotive expertise from his experience at NIO, Ford, and Volvo—signaling Robo.ai's serious commitment to vehicle manufacturing capabilities.

The planned product portfolio is comprehensive, spanning three distinct commercial vehicle segments: luxury coaches, city buses, and premium business vehicles. All products emphasize green energy and smart technology integration, positioning the joint venture at the intersection of two major industry trends. The RO1 and RO2 series target essential transportation infrastructure needs in developing regions, while the RO3 aims at the higher-margin executive transport segment.

JW Group brings substantial manufacturing capacity and an extensive distribution network with over 400 distributors, providing immediate market access across South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia. This partnership allows Robo.ai to bypass years of infrastructure development and market entry challenges that typically face new entrants in the automotive sector.

The UAE headquarters for RoBUS aligns with the country's "We the UAE 2031" vision and positions the venture to capitalize on Middle Eastern infrastructure investments. The reference to Robo.ai's investment in Arkreen suggests future integration of decentralized physical infrastructure networks, potentially creating additional revenue streams beyond vehicle sales through data services or smart city integration.

DUBAI, UAE, Sept. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Robo.ai Inc. (NASDAQ: AIIO) announces that it will establish a commercial vehicle joint venture with Pakistan's leading company JW Group, in furtherance of its strategic goal of contributing to green mobility and smart city development. The JV will be named RoBUS and headquartered in UAE. Robo.ai is also pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. River Zhang as the Robo AI's Chief Industrial Officer and President of RoBUS. Mr. Zhang, a former senior executive at NIO, Ford, and Volvo, has played a leading role in the successful launch of nearly 20 vehicle models. He brings extensive expertise in automotive production and intelligent manufacturing.

The establishment of RoBUS represents yet another important milestone in implementing Robo.ai's strategic vision of "Middle East Headquarters + Collaborative Manufacturing + Global Market." The parties had earlier announced plans for a commercial vehicle production base in South Asia. Leveraging JW Group's established manufacturing capabilities and international distribution network, RoBUS intends to develop customized products for the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia, aligned with applicable local regulations and  customer requirements.

Robo.ai will contribute capital market support, brand building expertise, and market expansion facilitation in the Middle East and globally. JW Group is expected to provide manufacturing capacity through its overseas facilities and extend market reach via its network of more than 400 distributors.

Planned Product Portfolio

RO1 Green Smart Luxury Coach Series: Covering 6–12 meter new energy coaches for intercity, tourism, and commuter services. Features include a full-load bearing structure, enhanced frontal collision protection, and next-generation integrated digital technology to support safety, stability and reliability under diverse driving conditions in South Asia and the Middle East.

RO2 Green Smart City Bus Series: Covering 9–12 meter new energy buses tailored to the needs of urban public transport. With a modern design and advanced intelligent driver-assist features, RO2 aims to enhance safety and efficiency..

RO3 Premium Business Vehicle Series: Designed for executive and corporate travel, combining safety, reliability, comfort, intelligence, and performance to deliver a high-quality and premium mobility experience.

Mr. Javed Afridi, Chief Executive Officer of JW Group, commented:

"The creation of RoBUS will accelerate the adoption of green and smart commercial vehicles. By establishing a shared intelligent manufacturing platform, we look forward to collaborating with Robo.ai to build a highly influential commercial vehicle hub to serve global markets."

Mr. River Zhang, President of RoBUS, added:

"The establishment of RoBUS is a key initiative supporting UAE's 'We the UAE 2031' national vision and our goal to create a green and smart commercial vehicle platform. Following Robo.ai's recent investment in Arkreen, a DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network) technology company, our smart vehicles are envisioned not only as carriers of green mobility but also as future-ready assets seamlessly integrated into intelligent economic ecosystems."

About JW Group

JW Group is a leading industrial conglomerate in the Middle East and South Asia, with businesses spanning automotive, home appliances, energy, and real estate. Its automotive and electrical manufacturing facilities have established assembly capabilities and a global sales network.

About Robo.ai Inc.

Robo.ai Inc. (NASDAQ: AIIO) is a technology company dedicated to building a global AI-enabled robotics platform. Its mission is to integrate smart mobility, smart cities, and smart assets into a unified artificial intelligence operating system and blockchain-enabled ecosystem, unlocking the future of intelligent living.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on current expectations, assumptions, and projections regarding future events and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. For more details, please refer to the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/roboai-announces-commercial-vehicle-joint-venture-with-jw-group-and-appoints-chief-industrial-officer-302562771.html

SOURCE Robo.ai Inc.

FAQ

What is the new joint venture between Robo.ai (NASDAQ: AIIO) and JW Group?

The joint venture is called RoBUS, headquartered in UAE, focusing on developing green commercial vehicles including luxury coaches, city buses, and premium business vehicles.

Who is River Zhang and what is his role at Robo.ai?

River Zhang is appointed as Chief Industrial Officer of Robo.ai and President of RoBUS. He is a former senior executive at NIO, Ford, and Volvo with experience in launching nearly 20 vehicle models.

What are the three product lines planned by RoBUS?

RoBUS plans to develop the RO1 Green Smart Luxury Coach Series (6-12m coaches), RO2 Green Smart City Bus Series (9-12m urban buses), and RO3 Premium Business Vehicle Series for executive travel.

How will the partnership between Robo.ai and JW Group work?

Robo.ai will provide capital market support and brand building expertise, while JW Group will contribute manufacturing capacity through its overseas facilities and access to its network of over 400 distributors.

How does the RoBUS venture align with UAE's vision?

The venture supports UAE's 'We the UAE 2031' national vision by creating a green and smart commercial vehicle platform integrated with intelligent economic ecosystems.