The logo of self-driving technology startup Pony.ai appears on a screen during an event in Beijing, China, May 13, 2021.
Wang Tingju | Reuters
The city of Shenzhen in China’s Silicon Valley is allowing self-driving taxis to operate throughout the city, ending years of test zones and strict restrictions.
Pony.ai announced Friday that it is the first company to receive a citywide robotaxi permit, but the coverage area will be expanded in stages.
The news marks a milestone in China’s efforts to integrate self-driving cars into everyday transportation.
Until now, the use of self-driving taxis in China has been limited to specific areas on the outskirts of metropolitan areas, rather than throughout the city.
Pony.ai’s rollout is part of a partnership with local taxi company Xihu Group. The two companies entered into a strategic partnership in June and plan to deploy more than 1,000 Pony.ai’s 7th generation robotaxis across Shenzhen over the next few years.
Pony.ai unveiled its 7th generation taxi in April this year, saying it reduced material costs by 70% compared to previous models. The robotaxi operator said it developed the vehicle jointly with Toyota and state-owned local operators Beijing Automobile Group Corp. (BAIC) and Guangqi Automobile Corp. (GAC).
