Pony.ai, Uber Expand Partnership, Planning to Deploy Over 2,000 Robotaxis in Five European Cities

Gasgoo Munich- Pony.ai and Uber announced on August 14 that they are significantly expanding their strategic partnership, with plans to deploy more than 2,000 Pony.ai robotaxis across five European cities. The move marks a major milestone in Pony.ai's global growth strategy and signals that Europe's autonomous driving industry is entering a new phase of large-scale deployment.

Image Source: Pony.ai

The expansion builds on existing commercial operations in Zagreb, Croatia. Future plans include five European cities—including Zagreb—with specific rollout schedules to be unveiled in stages. Soon, service in Zagreb will be integrated into the Uber platform, allowing local users to hail Pony.ai robotaxis directly through the app. Beyond Europe, the companies also plan to deepen their collaboration in the Middle East to further extend their global operational footprint.

This partnership represents a breakthrough for the "joint fleet" model, which integrates the three core capabilities required for scaled robotaxi operations: Pony.ai supplies its Level 4 autonomous driving technology and operational expertise, Uber leverages its global mobility platform for user reach and a hybrid capacity network, while day-to-day fleet management falls to selected local partners. In May, the trio validated the model's feasibility in Europe through a collaboration with Croatian firm Verne.

Pony.ai Founder and CEO Peng Jun said the expansion reflects a shared commitment to bringing safe, reliable robotaxi services to more European cities. Sarfraz Maredia, Uber's Head of Global Autonomous Mobility and Delivery, noted that the move signals a shift from isolated deployments to scalable, commercially viable operations. Underpinning this effort, Pony.ai's seventh-generation robotaxi is ready for automotive-grade mass production and has already achieved positive unit economics in select Chinese cities.