Pony.ai co-founder and CEO James Peng predicts that within five years, driverless taxis will be a common sight on streets worldwide. Speaking at the Fortune Leadership Forum held in Macau on September 8, he stated, "I believe the fundamental technical hurdles have largely been overcome. You can hail a driverless taxi just as easily as you would a regular one."
In the United States, discussions about autonomous mobility have predominantly centered around Waymo, while in other parts of the world, Chinese robotaxi companies like Pony.ai are rapidly expanding their market presence. Founded in 2016, Pony.ai currently operates commercial driverless taxi services in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Shanghai, with each vehicle averaging approximately 25 rides per day.
Peng noted, "Our passenger base is highly diverse, spanning all age groups and professions. This is by no means a niche product that only tech enthusiasts would try." The company is also actively pursuing international growth. In August, Pony.ai announced an expansion of its partnership with Uber, planning to deploy over 2,000 driverless taxis across Europe. The two companies have already launched services in Zagreb, Croatia, and have additionally agreed to introduce 200 driverless taxis in South Korea by 2028.
Pony.ai also has collaborative projects in the Middle East and Singapore. Peng mentioned that when selecting cities for expansion, he prioritizes regions where taxi costs are relatively high and the regulatory environment is favorable. Partnering with companies like Uber helps build user trust locally and encourages governments and policymakers to embrace the driverless future.
Peng attributes China's advantage in the autonomous driving sector to its "supportive" regulatory environment. He explained, "The biggest challenge is that this is an extremely complex system. It requires hardware, software, and talent... China has fostered a strong supporting ecosystem for such innovation."
The wider adoption of driverless taxis could fundamentally reshape urban operations. Peng remarked, "Most private cars are used only about two hours per day. If driverless taxis become ubiquitous, we can free up a significant amount of parking space." He added, "The impact will be profound. It will completely transform city planning and our way of life."
In the second quarter of this year, Pony.ai's driverless taxi business generated $12.1 million in revenue, representing a nearly 700% year-over-year increase. However, the company still recorded an operating loss of $65.7 million during the same period.
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