DVN visited Pony.ai in Shanghai during the recent EAC automotive conference. Overall, the driving experience was very smooth and safe. Pony achieved the first 1M km of autonomous driving in 2023 and did an IPO in 2024 raising $260M on the NASDAQ. Pony has deployed in China, South Korea, the Middle East and Luxembourg. In China the company has more than 300K registered users for its mobile app and is partnering with others outside of China to scale robotaxi service. Cars are being developed with Toyota and BAIC. Pony is also using its technology for the robotruck market and is operating pilots in China. The trucks use a similar software stack and sensor suite as the robotaxis, including semi-solid-state LiDARs.
Government support has been key to growth in China, with clear regulations and designated testing zones. In addition, there are clear liability policies. Insurance costs are currently 50% lower than for traditional taxis or ride-hailing fleets in China, which is a testament to the safety record. Pony now operates over 300 vehicles and a recent Goldman Sachs report forecasts that 500K robotaxis could be operating in China by 2030.
The cars can currently operate in most weather conditions, except extreme weather or snow and Pony does not use remote assistance technology to drive the vehicle, although a remote operator can reset the system in unusual circumstances.
Pony is currently using 12 cameras, 9 lidars and a few radars on its Gen-7 platform, using 100% automotive grade components.
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