A taxi without a driver is impressive. But a self-driving taxi that costs less than many ordinary family cars could really change things. Pony.ai wants to bring the total vehicle cost of its latest robotaxi in China below 230,000 yuan in 2027, roughly 33,000 dollars.
That figure covers both the car and the autonomous driving system. The Chinese company is pairing this cost reduction with growth: in August it reported a global fleet of 1,975 robotaxis. With Uber, it also has a plan for more than 2,000 vehicles in Europe. The race for the taxi ride of the future is coming from more directions than Waymo and Tesla.
The expensive robot on top of the car is getting cheaper
With a robotaxi you pay for more than the base car. Sensors, computers and the systems that interpret traffic also count. Pony.ai says it has cut the bill of materials for its seventh-generation autonomous driving system by 70 per cent compared with the previous generation.
The cost target for 2027 shows why that matters. The lower the purchase price, the fewer rides a taxi needs to pay for itself. A fleet then becomes easier to expand not only technically, but financially too.
Nearly 2,000 cars, with 3,500 as the next target
According to the August quarterly update, the robotaxi fleet had grown to 1,975 vehicles. Pony.ai is aiming for more than 3,500 by the end of 2026. Revenue from robotaxi services reached 12.1 million dollars in the second quarter, almost eight times as much as a year earlier.
The company as a whole booked 36.2 million dollars in revenue that quarter. The distinction is useful: Pony.ai does more than taxi rides. It also licenses technology and works on autonomous freight. Growth in the taxi service therefore tells a different story from the revenue of the whole business.
Even a self-driving taxi needs people
Removing the driver does not mean the rest of the operation runs by itself. Cars have to be charged, cleaned, inspected and assisted where needed. The company video above offers a look at exactly that behind-the-scenes work: how on-site staff support a larger group of vehicles.
Pony.ai is trying to make the driving technology scalable, while partners handle the fleet and access to customers. That way the company does not have to build a complete taxi operation in every city itself. That is the thinking behind the partnership with Uber.
Europe gets its own network
Pony.ai and Uber announced in August plans for more than 2,000 robotaxis in five European cities. The partnership builds on Zagreb, where the Croatian company Verne takes part as local fleet owner and operator. Four other cities are to follow.
The division of labour is familiar: Pony.ai supplies the virtual driver, Uber handles booking and payment, and local partners can run day-to-day operations. This is a planned roll-out. In each market, the vehicles and the service must meet local requirements.
The most exciting contest is over the fare
For passengers, what ultimately matters is whether the taxi is available, comfortable and affordable. Cheaper vehicles help, but maintenance, insurance, charging and downtime also weigh on the bill. That is why the cost per ride is at least as interesting as an impressive sensor on the roof.
Pony.ai shows how the robotaxi is turning into a complete transport product. The car is not only learning to drive better: its makers are also trying to organise the entire taxi service so that it can work in many more places.
