Robo.ai Joins Jidu Auto Pre-Restructuring Bid as Middle East Capital Emerges

Robo.ai’s involvement gives Xia Yiping’s restructuring efforts a tangible foothold.

According to media reports, Robo.ai Inc. has officially submitted its application documents to the interim administrator of Shanghai Jidu Auto Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Jidu Auto”), applying to participate in the recruitment and selection process for its pre-restructuring strategic investors.

The emergence of Robo.ai confirms previous market rumors. In early December, reports stated that Jidu Auto’s former CEO, Xia Yiping, was leading efforts to introduce new strategic investors from the Middle East, while Baidu, one of Jidu’s initiators and major shareholders, was seeking an exit.

Public information shows that Robo.ai is a technology company headquartered in Dubai, UAE. It announced a brand refresh in August this year, aiming to build a technology holding platform that fully integrates “smart hardware, smart mobility, and smart contracts.”

Robo.ai explicitly stated in its announcement that Jidu Auto’s strategic direction “closely aligns with” its vision of building an intelligent machine economy ecosystem.

Leveraging its structure of “UAE Headquarters + NASDAQ-Listed Company,” Robo.ai will explore strategic synergies with Jidu Auto’s related businesses in areas such as international capital markets, global business collaboration, and overseas market expansion. This aims to accelerate the commercialization of “car robots” in high-growth global markets.

Robo.ai has completed the submission of its application materials for this round. The next steps involve paying the due diligence deposit according to the procedure, followed by conducting relevant due diligence and advancing the submission and communication of the “Pre-restructuring Investment Proposal.”

This application is only a procedural step in participating in the pre-restructuring process. There remains uncertainty regarding the eventual formation of a “Pre-restructuring Investment Proposal,” the signing of a “Pre-restructuring Investment Agreement,” and becoming a pre-restructuring investor. Furthermore, uncertainty exists as to whether the “Pre-restructuring Plan” will be approved by a vote of the creditors’ meeting or by the People’s Court.