Chinese technology company Pony.ai, which develops autonomous vehicles, has presented extensive plans to significantly expand its robotaxi operations.
In connection with Tuesday's quarterly report, the company announced that its fleet will grow from today's nearly one thousand vehicles to over 3,000 units by the end of 2026 at the latest.
With 961 robotaxis currently in operation, the company aims to reach the thousand mark before the end of this year. Behind the ambitious growth plan lies a significant technological breakthrough – the company's seventh-generation robotaxi has proven profitable at city level in the metropolis of Guangzhou.
Just two weeks after the commercial service launched in Guangzhou, each Gen-7 vehicle achieved an average of 23 trips per day. This, combined with drastically reduced production costs, creates conditions for large-scale expansion. Costs for the autonomous systems have been pushed down by 70 percent compared to previous generations, and the company expects to reduce them by a further 20 percent over the coming year.
Pioneer in driverless technology
Today, Pony.ai offers commercial robotaxi services in four of China's largest cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. In Shanghai, the company made history when it became the first in the city to launch fully driverless commercial robotaxis in July. Operations began in the Pudong areas of Jinqiao and Huamu, and have since expanded to more districts.
In Shenzhen, the number of pick-up and drop-off locations has grown explosively. Since June, the network has expanded by over 300 percent and now comprises more than 10,000 locations where passengers can get in and out.
Partnerships finance growth
To enable rapid expansion without overburdening its own finances, Pony.ai has developed an innovative business model. Through partnerships with companies Xihu Group and Sunlight Mobility, external actors finance vehicle purchases, while Pony.ai contributes the autonomous technology. This capital-light strategy reduces the company's own investment needs and accelerates fleet deployment.
Reaching beyond China
Ambitions do not stop at the Chinese market. Pony.ai has begun expansion to a total of eight countries around the world. In Qatar, the company has initiated cooperation with the country's largest transport company Mowasalat, while establishments are also taking place in Singapore and several other markets.
Collaboration with international ride-hailing giants Bolt and Uber, both of which participated in Pony.ai's Hong Kong listing, is expected to facilitate and accelerate expansion into new markets.
In addition to passenger transport, the company is also investing in freight transport. Together with truck manufacturer SANY Truck, autonomous trucks are being developed. The fourth generation of Robotruck is designed for large-scale mass production, with planned deployment of the first fleet units during 2026.
During the third quarter of this year, the company showed strong revenue growth, driven primarily by increased demand for robotaxi services in China's metropolitan areas and licensing of the technology to other actors.
