Chinese autonomous-driving company Pony.ai has officially launched its seventh-generation robotaxi in Manchester, UK, in partnership with Uber and Verne, according to Chinese automotive outlet Gasgoo. The company began vehicle testing in the city on October 14, less than a week after announcing a similar project in London on October 8.
Manchester, the UK's second-largest urban area and a key economic and transport hub in northern England, presents a different set of challenges compared with London. Its polycentric layout, high-density short trips, and suburban connection scenarios are typical of mid-sized European cities. By adding Manchester, Pony.ai aims to validate its technology across more diverse road conditions, building a "two-city" footprint that covers the UK's core economic belt and providing operational data for future expansion.
From validation to replication
The back-to-back launches mark a shift for Pony.ai's co-fleet model from a validation phase to a replication phase. The company earlier introduced Europe's first commercial robotaxi service in Zagreb, Croatia, also integrated with Uber and Verne. Under this model, Pony.ai supplies the autonomous-driving technology, Verne handles local fleet operations, and Uber connects passengers through its global network. This proven framework is now being rapidly applied to the UK market, with overseas deployment cycles shortening as the company leverages its mature domestic experience.
Pony.ai's European path—from Zagreb to London to Manchester—shows a clear logic of moving from single-city validation to multi-city replication, reflecting a broader trend of Chinese autonomous-driving firms shifting toward systematic overseas expansion. After launching commercial service in Zagreb in April, the company began fully driverless passenger testing just five months later. With London and Manchester now announced, Pony.ai's plan to deploy over 2,000 robotaxis across five European cities is gradually materializing, while markets in the UAE, Singapore, and South Korea are also advancing.
