JW Group Partners with Robo.ai to Launch Commercial Vehicle Venture

Pakistan’s JW Group will form a joint venture with Robo.ai Inc. (NASDAQ: AIIO) to develop commercial vehicles, the companies announced Monday. The new entity, named RoBUS, will be headquartered in the United Arab Emirates and focus on advancing green mobility and smart city development. JW Group will contribute its established manufacturing capacity, including overseas facilities, and will leverage its network of more than 400 distributors to extend market reach. The company’s role is expected to be central in supporting production and distribution across target regions. Robo.ai will provide capital market support, brand development, and global market expansion expertise. The company said the establishment of RoBUS aligns with its broader strategy of “Middle East Headquarters + Collaborative Manufacturing + Global Market.” The joint venture will design and manufacture customized vehicles for the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia, tailored to local regulations and customer requirements. The announcement builds on earlier plans by the partners to establish a commercial vehicle production base in South Asia. As part of the initiative, Robo.ai appointed River Zhang as its Chief Industrial Officer and President of RoBUS. Zhang, who previously held senior roles at NIO, Ford, and Volvo, has led the successful launch of nearly 20 vehicle models and brings extensive experience in automotive production and intelligent manufacturing. 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.”