Pony.ai Plans Over 4,000 Robotaxis Overseas
Chinese autonomous driving company Pony.ai plans to deploy more than 4,000 robotaxis across international markets, marking a major expansion beyond its home market. The company said the overseas pipeline includes planned and potential deployments, with regulatory approvals still determining when vehicles can begin operating.
The move comes as Pony.ai accelerates commercialization across Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Moreover, the company is using partnerships with ride-hailing operators and local mobility firms to reduce the complexity of overseas expansion.
Europe Drives Pony.ai’s Global Expansion
Pony.ai recently expanded its partnership with Uber to deploy more than 2,000 robotaxis across Europe. The rollout will cover four additional European cities beyond Zagreb, although the companies have not disclosed those locations.
In April, Pony.ai, Uber and Verne launched a commercial robotaxi service in Zagreb, Croatia. The company described the launch as Europe’s first commercial robotaxi service. The service initially covered about 90 square kilometres and included Zagreb Airport.
Meanwhile, Pony.ai has continued building operations in other overseas markets. The company launched commercial fare-charging robotaxi services in Doha and began autonomous mobility operations in Singapore. It has also been preparing driverless operations in Dubai.
As a result, the company now has a broader international footprint across Europe, the Middle East and East Asia. However, the 4,000-plus figure represents the overseas deployment pipeline rather than vehicles already operating internationally.
Robotaxi Revenue Surges
The international expansion follows a sharp increase in Pony.ai’s robotaxi business. In the second quarter, company revenue reached $36.2 million, up 68.8% year over year. Furthermore, robotaxi revenue jumped 691.2% to $12.1 million.
Robotaxi revenue accounted for roughly one-third of total quarterly revenue for the first time. Therefore, overseas commercialization could become increasingly important as Pony.ai seeks to expand this business beyond China.
The company also reported a global robotaxi fleet of 1,975 vehicles. Meanwhile, Pony.ai continues to target more than 3,500 robotaxis by the end of 2026.
Pony.ai previously raised its 2026 robotaxi revenue target to more than 3.5 times its 2025 level. It also expects to expand its robotaxi operations to more than 20 cities worldwide this year.
Regulation Remains the Key Constraint
Despite the scale of its pipeline, Pony.ai cannot immediately place all 4,000 vehicles on overseas roads. Each deployment depends on local permits, regulatory approvals and operating requirements.
James Peng, Pony.ai’s chairman and CEO, said the overseas vehicles in the pipeline have already been contracted. However, the company has not provided a timeline for completing the full international rollout.
The strategy nevertheless reflects a broader shift among Chinese autonomous-driving companies. As domestic competition intensifies, firms such as Pony.ai are increasingly looking to international markets for commercial growth.
Pony.ai’s expansion also builds on its dual-engine strategy, which combines domestic growth with overseas deployments. According to the company, its proprietary PonyWorld world model and Virtual Driver technology support its autonomous driving systems across Robotaxi and Robotruck applications.
If regulators approve the planned deployments, the 4,000-plus vehicle pipeline could make Pony.ai one of the more significant Chinese autonomous mobility companies operating outside China.
