Pony.ai Partners with Uber for 2,000-Robotaxi European Expansion

Pony.ai and ride-hailing giant Uber have announced an expanded strategic partnership that will deploy over 2,000 Robotaxis across five European cities, making it one of the largest Robotaxi rollouts in Europe. The move brings Pony.ai's total overseas deployment to more than 4,000 vehicles.

The expansion builds on Pony.ai's existing commercial Robotaxi service in Zagreb, Croatia, which launched in May 2026 through a partnership with local company Verne. The Zagreb service will soon integrate with the Uber app, allowing users to book Pony.ai autonomous rides directly.

A "Co-Build Fleet" Model

The partnership follows what both companies call a "co-build fleet" approach. Pony.ai contributes its L4-level autonomous driving system, validated user experience, and operational expertise. Uber provides rider access, booking, payment, customer service, and a mixed-capacity network. Day-to-day fleet management is handled by locally selected partners in each city.

This division of labor avoids the need for either party to build everything from scratch — Pony.ai does not need to construct a ride-hailing platform in every market, and Uber does not need to develop its own L4 system. Each partner brings familiar local allies to handle vehicle management and city operations, with flexible arrangements for vehicle funding and asset ownership depending on local conditions.

Localization remains critical. New markets require regulatory approval, vehicle compliance, testing, and operating licenses — areas where Uber and its local partners hold distinct advantages. Pony.ai focuses on adapting its technology to local road environments, traffic rules, and user preferences while ensuring the safety and continuous iteration of its autonomous system.

Why Uber Is Doubling Down

For Uber, the decision comes down to three factors: the ability to serve complex urban cores in adverse weather, consistent ride availability during peak demand, and low hardware and operational costs.

Pony.ai has already achieved what many autonomous driving companies have not — commercializing fully driverless Robotaxi service. It operates 1,975 Robotaxis across Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, with over 100 million kilometers of global autonomous driving test mileage, including more than 40 million kilometers of fully driverless operation.

The Pony.ai 7th-generation Robotaxi has achieved per-vehicle profitability in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, signaling that the unit economics work. Pony.ai CEO Jinpeng Peng has stated that the company's vehicle cost is roughly one-quarter to one-fifth of Waymo's, a gap driven by R&D efficiency, supply chain optimization, and engineering capabilities. Lower costs allow partners to deploy more vehicles for the same capital investment.

Unlike custom-built test vehicles, the 7th-generation model is automotive-grade and mass-producible, making it suitable for cross-city replication and long-term fleet operations.

"China + Overseas" Dual-Engine Strategy

The European expansion is a key piece of Pony.ai's dual-engine strategy. China serves as the R&D and industrialization base, where complex urban roads stress-test technology and commercial models, and where mature supply chains drive down costs. Overseas markets scale the validated product and unlock higher revenue potential.

Pony.ai has received autonomous driving test or operating licenses in the Middle East, Singapore, South Korea, Luxembourg, and Croatia. It has set a target of entering over 20 global cities and deploying 3,500 vehicles by 2026, with the five-city European rollout pushing that target beyond 4,000 vehicles.

Under the co-build model, European fleet operations are expected to generate ongoing revenue through technology licensing and fare-sharing agreements, shifting Pony.ai's income from project-based contracts toward long-term, scale-linked returns.