Chinese robotaxi company Pony.ai to work with Stellantis on Europe expansion
Robotaxi operator Pony.ai has begun testing human-staffed rides between a Beijing suburb and a major high-speed rail station.
CNBC | Evelyn Cheng
Chinese robotaxi company pony.ai He announced on Friday that he was working with Stellantis To test driverless taxis in Europe.
The companies said they will start testing in Luxembourg, where Pony.ai’s European division is headquartered, in the coming months. Starting next year, the companies plan a “phased rollout in European cities.”
Pony.ai will provide the autonomous driving software; Stellantis, owner of brands such as Chrysler, Citroën and Jeep, will provide electric vehicles, starting with Peugeot e-Traveller.
Deploying robotaxis to the mass market often begins with local testing on public roads to establish a safety track record to gain regulatory approval.
“Pony.ai stands out for its technical expertise and collaborative approach.”
Stellantis’ Chief Engineering and Technology Officer Ned Curic said Pony.ai is known for its “technical expertise and collaborative approach.” He noted that the automaker produces automobile systems for autonomous driving integration and “partners with top players in the industry.”
Major US and Chinese cities are among the first in the world to allow local companies to operate public robotaxis.
Last year, companies accelerated their efforts to expand into the Middle East and Europe.
Earlier this week, US robotaxi operator Waymo announced that it plans to begin testing in London before launching its driverless taxi service in London next year. Waymo is owned by Google’s parent company Alphabet.
Pony.ai and its Chinese rival WeRide Both are listed in the U.S. The two companies this week received Chinese regulatory approval for plans to offer their shares through a dual listing in Hong Kong.
—CNBC’s Lora Kolodny contributed to this report.
