Chinese autonomous driving company Pony.ai has announced plans to bring its seventh-generation robotaxi to London, with road testing expected to begin within weeks, according to Gasgoo. The move, made in partnership with Uber, positions London as a key node in the pair's European robotaxi deployment strategy.
European expansion accelerates
In August, Pony.ai and Uber upgraded their strategic cooperation, planning to deploy more than 2,000 robotaxis across five European cities. Zagreb, Croatia, became the first city to launch the service, which is now the first commercial robotaxi operation in Europe, integrated with both Uber and the local Verne app. The service covers the city center and airport transfers, and is seen as a validation of Chinese autonomous driving technology and business models expanding overseas.
London, one of the world's largest mobility markets and Europe's most active transport hub, offers a clear regulatory path. The UK passed the Automated Vehicles Act in 2024, establishing a compliance framework for robotaxi commercialization, including accident liability rules. This regulatory clarity, combined with mature demand and an established partner ecosystem, made London an attractive addition to Pony.ai's 'China plus overseas' dual-engine growth strategy.
Going global with local partners
Pony.ai's overseas expansion follows a 'co-built fleet' model, working with local partners on user channels, vehicle management, and localized operations. Beyond Croatia, this approach has been applied in the UAE, Singapore, and South Korea. The strategy reflects a broader shift in China's automotive industry from exporting complete vehicles to exporting solutions, vehicle platforms, and fleet operations.
The company's international push aligns with recent Chinese policy support. On September 10, nine government departments, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, issued the 15th Five-Year Plan for Intelligent Connected New Energy Vehicles, which lists 'international capability leap' as a major project, encouraging intelligent connected vehicle companies to expand overseas. Separately, the Ministry of Transport released safety guidelines for AI applications in transportation, providing a systematic framework for autonomous driving compliance.
Industry analysts suggest that major economies are competing to define technical standards for AI and intelligent vehicles. Companies that achieve commercial operations in multiple international markets early could gain a first-mover advantage in standard-setting, with overseas operational data and regulatory experience becoming valuable assets.
