In a significant move towards establishing a profitable robotaxi industry, Chinese startup Pony.ai announced that it’s now authorized to charge fares for fully autonomous rides in key parts of Shenzhen’s bustling business district. This groundbreaking approval marks the first of its kind in China, allowing Pony.ai to operate driverless taxis without any human supervision in the tech-forward Nanshan district, which is home to major companies like Tencent and DJI. However, it’s important to note that this permit is limited to specific areas within the district, such as the financial sub-district.
Pony.ai has already been running its robotaxi services in other sections of Shenzhen, with some routes manned by staff connecting locations like Shenzhen International Airport and the border checkpoint at Shenzhen Bay to Hong Kong. While the company hasn’t disclosed the exact number of vehicles it plans to deploy in Shenzhen, it has confirmed that these driverless taxis are set to operate daily from 7:30 in the morning until 10 at night. For residents interested in trying out the service, they can easily schedule rides via Pony.ai’s dedicated app or through a mini-program on WeChat.
Furthermore, Pony.ai has expanded its robotaxi operations to major urban centers like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, boasting over 250 vehicles nationwide as of late November. Back in 2021, the autonomous vehicle scene in Beijing took a step forward as local authorities allowed companies like Baidu’s Apollo Go and Pony.ai to start charging for rides in some southern suburbs of the city.
By mid-March, Pony.ai had made additional strides by launching the first paid robotaxi route connecting these suburbs to Beijing South Railway Station. Although these rides currently require a day’s notice and are subject to regulations demanding a human presence in the driver’s seat, they remain a notable milestone.
This week, Pony.ai revealed a “significant increase” in passenger fares over the last quarter compared to the previous year, although they chose not to share specific numbers. Interestingly, despite this increase, the company’s overall revenue from robotaxi operations saw a dramatic 61.9% year-on-year decline, dropping to $2.6 million in the fourth quarter. This decrease is attributed to lower service fees for their autonomous vehicle engineering solutions. Conversely, the firm observed a 72.7% year-on-year revenue boost in its robotruck services, reaching $12.9 million, thanks to the expansion of their robotruck fleet.
