Robo.ai Inc. and U.S. data‑center specialist Tachyon9 Corporation have announced a joint‑venture agreement that will create a new entity focused on designing, building, and operating a 20‑MW artificial‑intelligence data center in the United Arab Emirates. The facility is slated for the Asia‑Pacific or Middle East & North Africa region and is expected to become operational within 12 to 24 months of site acquisition.
The partnership leverages Tachyon9’s proven liquid‑cooling and energy‑efficient designs with Robo.ai’s regional presence and edge‑AI platform. Together they aim to capture a share of the projected $50 billion global AI infrastructure market by 2030, while addressing the $200 billion global infrastructure gap that has slowed AI deployment in high‑density regions. The joint venture aligns with the UAE’s “We The UAE 2031” smart‑city vision, positioning the new data center as a cornerstone of the country’s AI strategy.
Robo.ai’s shift into AI infrastructure follows a period of declining earnings—averaging a 47.1% year‑over‑year drop—while revenue has grown 46.3% annually. The company’s negative total shareholder equity of $69.2 million and a debt‑to‑equity ratio of –21.3% underscore the need for new, high‑margin revenue streams. By moving beyond autonomous vehicles, Robo.ai seeks to diversify its business and tap into the rapidly expanding AI‑as‑a‑service market, where it can leverage its edge‑AI expertise to deliver specialized compute services.
Tachyon9, a specialist in data‑center development, has a track record of deploying liquid‑cooled, high‑density AI facilities in the United States. While the joint‑venture’s financial terms—including total investment, equity split, and closing date—have not been disclosed, the partnership signals a strategic alignment of complementary capabilities. The deal is expected to close once site acquisition is finalized, with no specific closing date announced.
The market reacted positively to the announcement, with analysts noting the strategic completeness of Robo.ai’s AI infrastructure strategy and the significant market opportunity in the APAC and MENA regions. Investors highlighted the venture’s potential to address critical infrastructure bottlenecks—such as grid capacity constraints and cooling limitations—through advanced cooling technologies and equipment‑as‑a‑service models.
CEO Benjamin Zhai said the joint venture “completes the infrastructure puzzle” by securing the physical chassis after obtaining the compute engine, underscoring Robo.ai’s commitment to building an end‑to‑end AI platform. Executive Chairman Shahal Khan of Tachyon9 emphasized the partnership’s ability to serve the UAE’s smart‑city vision and capture a growing share of the AI data‑center market.
The joint venture represents a material pivot for Robo.ai, offering a scalable, high‑margin business model that complements its existing autonomous‑vehicle operations and positions the company to capitalize on the projected $50 billion AI infrastructure market by 2030.
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