Robo.ai Inc. (AIIO) announced a strategic memorandum of understanding with Zand Bank PJSC, the Middle East’s first fully digital bank, on November 21 2025. The agreement will embed Zand Bank’s regulated digital financial infrastructure into Robo.ai’s intelligent hardware ecosystem, enabling AED‑backed stablecoin payments, IoT asset custody, and real‑world asset tokenization across the company’s smart devices.
The partnership is designed to solve payment and compliance challenges in the emerging “Machine Economy.” By integrating Zand Bank’s stablecoin and custodial services, Robo.ai will provide automated, machine‑to‑machine settlements for its smart vehicles, eVTOL aircraft, and other AI‑driven terminals. The collaboration also gives Robo.ai a compliance bridge that could unlock core international markets in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia, where Zand Bank’s regulatory license and digital banking capabilities are already in place.
Financially, Robo.ai has faced a steep revenue decline in 2024, reporting a 15% drop to $1.8 billion and a net loss of $350 million, a sharp contrast to the $2.3 billion revenue and $120 million profit reported in 2023. The partnership, coupled with a $300 million investment led by Burkhan Capital LLC expected to close within 30 days, is positioned to reverse the company’s financial trajectory by creating new revenue streams and reducing compliance costs in high‑growth regions.
Investor sentiment has intensified around the announcement. Market analysts noted that the partnership, the fresh capital infusion, and Robo.ai’s pivot from an electric‑vehicle manufacturer to an integrated AI platform have collectively driven a surge in investor interest, reflected in a 36% increase in the company’s share price over the past week. The rally is attributed to the perceived strategic value of the fintech integration and the alignment with the UAE’s “We the UAE 2031” innovation agenda.
CEO Benjamin Zhai said the collaboration “will accelerate the integration of smart devices and provide infrastructure for automated settlement, asset tokenization, and IoT data financialization.” Zand Bank CEO Michael Chan added that the partnership “will extend the reach of the AED stablecoin into a vast ecosystem of AI‑driven smart devices, enabling seamless, automated transactions between humans and machines.”
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