Pony.ai announces launch of Robotaxi service in Shanghai

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Chinese autonomous car technology startup Pony.ai announced on July 7 that the pilot operation of its Robotaxi service was launched in Shanghai.

Photo credit: Pony.ai

Users will be able to hail self-driving cars in Jiading district, Shanghai through the PonyPilot+ App, the company said at the 2021 WAIC (World Artificial Intelligence Conference). The fleet consists of modified Lexus RX vehicles armed with Pony.ai's latest autonomous driving system.

Pony.ai has also deployed its Robotaxi service in Guangzhou, Beijing, Irvine and Fremont. In May, the company announced the service it offers in Beijing had been upgraded to PonyPilot+. From May 10 onwards, PonyPilot+ went into service in a field of up to 150 square kilometers in Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area. Including roughly 150 stops, the core service area for Pony.ai's Robotaxi fleet contains subway stations, parks, sports complexes, business districts, as well as residential quarters.

In late June, the startup said fully driverless vehicles had joined the Robotaxi fleet to serve commuters in Nansha district, Guangzhou.

At the 2021 WAIC, Pony.ai also unveiled the latest development progress of its autonomous truck business. After receiving the freight road transport business permit from Nansha district's local authority in late April, Pony.ai's self-driving trucks have so far travelled for 37,466 kilometers to transport roughly 13,650 tons of goods.