Gasgoo Munich- On April 20, Pony.ai announced it has begun fully driverless Robotaxi testing in Dubai, marking a significant milestone in its expansion into the Middle East. The move represents a key step forward in the company's localization efforts and deepens its collaboration with Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to accelerate the development of smart mobility systems.
Image source: Pony.ai
According to its roadmap, Pony.ai plans to launch commercial Robotaxi services for the public in Dubai in the second half of 2026, with an initial fleet expected to scale to several hundred vehicles.
Since entering the Dubai market, Pony.ai has worked closely with the RTA to advance autonomous driving trials and deployment, supporting the city's Dubai's Vision 2030. Under that plan, 25% of all urban trips in Dubai are expected to be conducted via autonomous transport by 2030.
The company received approval in September 2025 to begin testing on public roads and has since expanded its operational scope across a variety of traffic scenarios. These efforts are aimed at building the technical and operational foundation required for fully driverless commercial services.
The latest progress in Dubai underscores the continued execution of Pony.ai's "dual-engine" growth strategy, which combines domestic scale with international expansion. Leveraging a business model already validated in China, the company has built core capabilities spanning mass-produced Robotaxi vehicles, operational systems, and fully driverless technology.
This foundation now supports a parallel development approach, with sustained growth in the Chinese market complemented by an accelerating push overseas. Pony.ai is also advancing a partner-driven commercialization model designed to scale its Robotaxi operations more efficiently.
Within China, Pony.ai has already deployed its Gen-7 Robotaxi fleet at scale and achieved unit-level breakeven in Guangzhou and Shenzhen—an important milestone for the commercial viability of autonomous ride-hailing. The company is now working to replicate this model across additional cities.
Internationally, Pony.ai is focusing on key regions including the Middle East, Europe, and East Asia, advancing both testing and commercialization in cities such as Dubai, Doha, and Zagreb. By 2026, the company plans to operate more than 3,000 Robotaxis across over 20 cities worldwide, with overseas markets expected to account for nearly half of that footprint.
