May 27 – Pony.ai, listed on the NASDAQ under the ticker PONY, has made significant strides in the realm of autonomous transport. The company has entered into an agreement with the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai to roll out an innovative autonomous robotaxi service. This partnership aligns perfectly with Dubai’s ambitious vision to transform 25 percent of its transportation system into self-driving modalities by the year 2030.
The journey towards this autonomous future begins with supervised trials scheduled for 2025, after which the city will transition to fully driverless operations by 2026. This phased approach ensures that the integration of autonomous vehicles into Dubai’s bustling transport system is safe and efficient. With a strong emphasis on regulatory compliance and safety, these trials will pave the way for widespread adoption of this groundbreaking technology.
At Auto Shanghai 2025, Pony.ai showcased its latest innovation: a seventh-generation robotaxi. This purpose-built vehicle is not just a marvel of engineering; it represents a significant reduction in production costs—approximately 70 percent cheaper in terms of bill-of-materials—while still adhering to stringent automotive-grade safety standards. These advancements make it feasible for Pony.ai to focus on mass production through strategic partnerships with well-known manufacturers like Toyota (NYSE:TM), GAC Motor, and BAIC Motor. Following its debut in Shanghai in April, wider deployment of these robotaxis is expected later this year.
Currently, Pony.ai boasts an operational fleet of around 300 robotaxis across China, alongside testing permits in multiple regions including the U.S., China, South Korea, and Luxembourg. These efforts are indicative of Pony.ai’s ambition to lead the autonomous transport sector on a global scale. The Dubai agreement not only signifies an expansion into a new market but also reinforces Pony.ai’s strategy of scaling its autonomous mobility platform in response to increasing demand for self-driving transport solutions.
This new venture in Dubai represents a critical chapter in Pony.ai’s growth story and offers exciting prospects for the future of urban transport. Not only is it a testament to the advancing technology in the realm of autonomous vehicles, but it also highlights the growing collaboration between private companies and government authorities aimed at revolutionizing urban mobility.
This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
