Pony.ai, the Chinese startup supported by Toyota Motor and NIO Capital, has achieved another milestone in its pursuit of self-driving technology by launching its fully unmanned robotaxi service in Shenzhen, a prominent Chinese mega-city.
As of May 29, Pony.ai has obtained a permit from the Shenzhen authorities to operate robotaxi services without a safety officer on board within the city’s core areas. It is currently the sole company to receive such authorization in Shenzhen, according to a recent press release.
Since its establishment in late 2016, Pony.ai has strategically positioned its research and development centers in Silicon Valley, Guangzhou, Beijing, and Shanghai. The company has been actively operating robotaxi services in these regions.
In late 2019, NIO Capital, an investment firm, made an undisclosed investment in Pony.ai as part of the latter’s successful fundraising of over $200 million. Subsequently, in February 2020, Pony.ai announced a $400 million funding round with participation from Toyota.
Pony.ai introduced its robotaxi app, PonyPilot, in December 2018 and secured permission to offer fee-based robotaxi services in Beijing in November 2021.
On March 17, the company attained a license from Beijing authorities to operate fully unmanned robotaxi services within a 60-square-kilometer area located in the Yizhuang Economic Development Zone.
Further expanding its driverless operations, on April 26, Pony.ai was granted permission to deploy robotaxis without safety officers on board in Guangzhou, where it successfully deployed 17 such vehicles.
This expansion into Shenzhen demonstrates Pony.ai’s ability to rapidly deploy self-driving technology across different cities, showcasing their expertise in the field.
Pony.ai emphasized the rigorous testing process that driverless vehicles must undergo before being deemed road-ready. This testing involves evaluating remote and extreme scenarios, safety protocols, network and data security, risk management, as well as comprehensive assessments conducted by experts and government agencies.
By successfully passing these stringent tests, Pony.ai has underscored its technical capabilities and proficiency in autonomous driving.
To date, Pony.ai has accumulated over 1 million kilometers of fully unmanned testing and completed nearly 200,000 paid travel orders, highlighting the growing demand and acceptance of their robotaxi service.
With its continued advancements in self-driving technology and the expansion of its operations to key Chinese cities, Pony.ai is making significant strides towards reshaping the future of transportation.
