Pony.ai Launches Road Testing for 7th Gen Robotaxis in Beijing
Pony.ai Inc. has begun road testing its Gen 7 Robotaxi model built with BAIC in Beijing’s 225 km² High Level Autonomous Driving Demonstration Zone.
This marks the final major city rollout alongside concurrent testing in Guangzhou and Shenzhen.
Key Highlights
Mass Production Underway: Gen‑7 models are now in production through partnerships with BEIJING Automotive (BAIC) and Guangzhou Auto (GAC).
These vehicles feature 100% automotive-grade components and a 70% reduction in autonomous driving kit costs compared to earlier models.
1,000‑Vehicle Target: Pony.ai is on track to deploy over 1,000 Gen‑7 Robotaxi units across China by late 2025, supported by the expanded testing program.
Advanced Urban Zone: Testing in Beijing covers diverse driving conditions—from busy airports to rail stations and ring roads—with no human driver required in the driver’s seat.
Safety officers are allowed in the front passenger seat only.
What’s Next?
Pony.ai aims for full commercial deployment soon, integrating robotaxi services into public transport zones, airports, and major transit hubs.
Continued technology refinement and regulatory clearance are expected across additional urban regions.
Analysts predict that with fleet expansion and cost efficiencies, the company could approach profitability by 2029.
Key Competitors of Pony.ai Robotaxi
- Pony.ai faces strong competition in the autonomous vehicle market from several major players.
- Alphabet’s Waymo is a global leader with fully driverless services in U.S. cities like Phoenix and San Francisco.
- Cruise, backed by General Motors, also runs robotaxi operations in multiple U.S. locations but has faced recent safety hurdles.
- In China, Baidu’s Apollo Go is a major rival, offering commercial driverless rides in cities such as Wuhan and Chongqing.
- AutoX, another China-based firm, operates in cities like Shenzhen and emphasizes completely driverless vehicles.
- Meanwhile, Tesla is working on its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software to power a future robotaxi fleet, leveraging its vast vehicle base and AI capabilities.
- These companies together represent a highly competitive landscape that Pony.ai must navigate to secure its position in the evolving robotaxi industry.
News Gist
Pony.ai’s new Gen-7 robotaxis have begun testing in Beijing, aiming for a 1,000-car fleet by year-end.
With advanced safety features and reduced costs, it competes with major players like Waymo, Baidu, AutoX, Cruise, and Tesla’s upcoming robotaxi.
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