Written by Akimoto Yukiko | Edited by Cláudio Afonso
Autonomous driving (AD) company Pony.ai received on Friday, at the 2024 World Artificial Intelligence Conference, one of Shanghai’s first permits for the demonstration of driverless vehicles.
Last month, the chief executive James Peng announced at an event in London that the company will establish a research and development center in Luxembourg.
This milestone allows passengers to hail a driverless robotaxi via the company’s app on a 205-kilometer (127.38 miles) route in central Pudong, Shanghai.
Pony.ai extends now its autonomous robotaxi services to all four major Chinese cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen.
At the same conference, the company showcased its sixth-generation Toyota Sienna Robotaxi and offered an experience of unmanned shuttle services.
Pony.ai has established a partnership with Japanese carmaker Toyota and its Chinese joint venture GAC Toyota, which is expected to accelerate the commercial operations of robotaxis in China.
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Founded in 2016, Pony.ai reached a valuation of $8.5 billion by March 2023, establishing itself as one of the most valuable autonomous driving companies globally.
In 2020, Pony.ai established its R&D center in Shanghai, marking it as one of the four key R&D hubs alongside Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen.
Currently, around 200 robotaxis, based on the Lexus RX450h and Toyota Sienna models, are providing autonomous driving mobility services through Pony.ai’s platform in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Shanghai.
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Written by Akimoto Yukiko | Edited by Cláudio Afonso
