Autonomous driving technology company Pony.ai has completed over two million kilometers of on-road testing with its Level 4 automotive-grade domain controller, a key component of its seventh-generation Robotaxi fleet. The milestone highlights the system’s performance, reliability, and readiness for commercial-scale deployment.
The domain controller, unveiled at the Shanghai Auto Show, is built entirely with automotive-grade components and integrates four NVIDIA OrinX chips delivering a combined 1,016 TOPS of computing power. Three of the chips are used in the main unit while the fourth serves as a backup for redundancy. Designed for a 10-year lifecycle or 600,000 kilometers, the controller supports full-vehicle redundancy and features both liquid and passive cooling to ensure system stability under varying conditions.
Pony.ai said the domain controller brings a 50% to 80% reduction in size, weight, power consumption, and cost compared to the previous generation. The company claims this has led to an 80% drop in hardware costs while enhancing system durability and operational safety. The controller acts as the central hub, managing functions such as sensor fusion, power distribution, hazard signaling, gateway control, and GNSS navigation.
The system incorporates a multi-layered safety architecture capable of “Fail Operational” transitions. In the event of main system failure—including power loss or chassis communication issues—a redundant setup ensures the vehicle can continue to operate safely, maintaining critical perception and enabling emergency maneuvers.
Pony.ai’s seventh-generation Robotaxis have now entered mass production. The company plans to deploy 1,000 autonomous vehicles in 2025, marking its first large-scale rollout. With these developments, Pony.ai aims to reduce complexity and manufacturing costs while scaling up its fleet in line with commercial deployment goals.
