Key takeaways Pony AI has partnered with Qatar's Mowasalat and Dubai's RTA to deploy robotaxis across the region, marking significant international growth beyond China. The company is on track to scal...
Chinese autonomous driving company Pony AI is rapidly expanding its robotaxi operations into the Middle East through strategic partnerships with Qatar's largest transportation provider Mowasalat and Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
The company announced it has produced over 200 seventh-generation robotaxis since mass production began in June and remains on track to scale up to a 1,000-vehicle fleet by year-end.
Under the partnership with Mowasalat, Pony AI's robotaxis have begun testing on public roads in Doha with safety operators onboard, focusing on adapting autonomous driving technology to Qatar's unique driving environment.
In Dubai, initial supervised robotaxi trials are set to begin in late 2025, paving the way for fully driverless service operations.
Dr. James Peng, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Pony AI, commented: "2025 marks the inaugural year of Pony.ai's mass-produced Robotaxis.
Achieving scaled production hinges on three critical cornerstones, which form the foundation of Pony.ai's strategy: advancing technology readiness, enforcing product integration, and refining operational capabilities".
Pony AI has localized its seventh-generation robotaxi technology specifically for the Middle East's extreme conditions, including temperatures that can exceed 50°C during summer and frequent sandstorms.
The company's Gen-7 robotaxi fleet features advanced LiDAR and camera arrays designed to filter out particulate matter during sandstorms, ensuring continuous operation.
The seventh-generation autonomous driving system features 100% automotive-grade autonomous driving kit with an extended product lifecycle, delivering enhanced stability and safety for passengers.
Continuous design optimizations have reduced total bill-of-materials costs by 70%, with an 80% decrease in autonomous driving computation and 68% cut in solid-state LiDAR compared to its predecessor.
The latest technology stack has withstood rigorous testing in extreme temperature fluctuations, including high-temperature extremes and desert environments, to ensure safe navigation in local conditions.
Pony AI's entry into the Middle East aligns with the geopolitical ambitions of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
The collaboration with Mowasalat aligns with Qatar's National Vision 2030, which emphasizes sustainable development and technological innovation.
Similarly, the partnership with Dubai's RTA supports Dubai's broader plan to transition 25% of its transportation to autonomous systems by 2030.
The company has also announced a strategic partnership with global ride-hailing giant Uber to offer robotaxis through its app, with initial deployment in the Middle East before scaling to further international markets.
During the initial pilot phase, a safety operator will be onboard the robotaxis before the fully autonomous service is commercially launched.
ARK Invest recently disclosed a $12.9 million investment in Pony AI, validating the company's scalable autonomous vehicle solutions and marking the fund's first direct investment in a Chinese Level 4 autonomous driving firm.
Pony AI reported strong financial results for Q2 2025, with total revenues growing 76% year-over-year and robotaxi fare-charging revenues surging by over 300%.
The company has launched fully-driverless commercial operations in Shanghai and is the only company commercially operating fully-driverless robotaxi services across all four tier-one cities in China.
Analysts project that Pony AI's revenue could reach CN¥588 million in 2025 and surge to CN¥22 billion by 2030, driven by robotaxi expansion.
The company's plan to scale its fleet to 10,000 vehicles by 2028 underscores its ambition to dominate the autonomous mobility market.
As of April 2025, Pony AI operated 270 robotaxis, up from 250 in October 2024. The average rides per day are currently about 15 per autonomous vehicle, totaling 4,050 rides for its robotaxi fleet.
The company's cumulative autonomous vehicle miles increased from 20.8 million miles in October 2024 to 24.4 million miles in April 2025.
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