Gasgoo Munich-Pony.ai has begun testing its seventh-generation Robotaxi in Manchester, UK, less than a week after announcing its London project on October 8, according to a post Pony.ai issued on Oct. 15 via WeChat account. The two announcements mark the company’s expansion into a second British city as it extends its partner-based fleet model.
Image source: Pony.ai
Manchester offers a different testing environment
Manchester is a major economic and transport hub in northern England, with substantial commuting demand. Compared with London, its urban environment reflects characteristics common to mid-sized European cities, including a multi-center structure, dense short-distance travel and connections between urban and suburban areas. Testing in Manchester gives Pony.ai an opportunity to assess its technology across a wider range of driving environments in the UK.
A partner-based fleet model
Under this model, Pony.ai supplies autonomous driving technology, Verne manages local fleet operations, and Uber connects passengers through its global network. The companies previously launched a commercial Robotaxi service in Zagreb, Croatia, integrated with both Uber and Verne. Pony.ai is now applying the same partnership framework in the UK, drawing on its operating experience in China.
European deployment and wider international expansion
Pony.ai launched its commercial service in Zagreb in April this year and began fully driverless passenger testing five months later. Its subsequent announcements in London and Manchester form part of a plan to deploy more than 2,000 Robotaxis across five European cities. The company is also pursuing expansion in the UAE, Singapore and South Korea.
