Chinese automotive firm Pony.ai’s Robotaxi service to launch on Uber platform this year
On May 6, Chinese automotive firm Pony.ai and Uber announced a global strategic partnership, with Pony.ai’s Robotaxi service and fleet set to integrate into the Uber platform in the second half of this year, accelerating the commercialization of autonomous driving technology. The collaboration will first launch in the Middle East market in 2024, with plans to expand to additional international markets in the future. Once live, Uber users will be able to opt for rides provided by Pony.ai’s autonomous vehicles through the Uber app.
At the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show, Pony.ai unveiled its seventh-generation, production-ready autonomous driving system, achieving a breakthrough in mass scalability and cost efficiency. As the world’s first L4 full-scenario driverless solution built entirely on automotive-grade chips, the system features 100% automotive-grade components, including solid-state LiDAR and NVIDIA Orin-X chips, with a design lifespan of 10 years or 600,000 kilometers. Powered by Pony.ai’s proprietary PonyWorld world model technology, its L4 Robotaxi fleet has already logged 500,000 hours of fully driverless operation across all scenarios, demonstrating safety performance 10 times higher than human drivers. This technological leap aligns closely with the goals of the strategic partnership, enabling Uber to safely and efficiently integrate Pony.ai’s autonomous fleet into its global platform.
Pony.ai is rapidly advancing the commercialization of its Robotaxi services in major Chinese cities and global markets. It now boasts the broadest network of ride-hailing and taxi platform partnerships among global Robotaxi companies, including Uber, WeChat Mobility, Ruqi Mobility, Alipay, Amap, Singapore’s ComfortDelGro, and Luxembourg’s Emile Weber, providing extensive user access and market reach for its autonomous services.
James Peng, Co-Founder and CEO of Pony.ai, stated: “Our vision is to deliver safe, reliable, and scalable autonomous driving technology that transforms mobility. Partnering with Uber accelerates this mission, bringing Pony.ai’s self-driving experience to users worldwide. Starting in the Middle East and expanding to new regions, we’re working with Uber to usher in a new era of driverless transportation.”