Pony.ai permitted to charge fees for driverless Robotaxi service in Beijing

Beijing (Gasgoo)- On July 20th, Pony.ai received permission for China’s first driverless Robotaxi commercial operation from Beijing High-level Automated Driving Demonstration Area (BJHAD).

Photo credit: Pony.ai

The permission signifies that Pony.ai is able to provide the public with fully autonomous driving mobility service and charge passengers with fares in the 60 square kilometers of core areas in Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area. 

The Robotaxis will have no drivers in the driver’s seat but with safety monitors sitting on the passenger seats. The charges for the ride will refer to the same rate as Pony.ai’s charging standards for Robotaxis with drivers on board. In rush hours the ride costs RMB3/km and RMB2.6/km in off-peak hours.

Since Pony.ai kicked off paid Robotaxi service in Beijing in November 2021, its fleet has provided commercialized 80,000 trips. With the paid driverless Robotaxi service coming online, Pony.ai will upgrade its ride-hailing mobile application, PonyPilot+, to offer passengers the choice of hailing a driverless or with-driver ride each time.

In addition, by mid-July 2022, Pony.ai has completed 900,000 trips worldwide with its Robotaxi service. Returned passengers accounted for roughly 80% of the total volume.