Pony.ai Secures Shenzhen’s First Fully Driverless Permit, Eyes Major Fleet Expansion
Pony.ai has achieved a regulatory breakthrough by obtaining Shenzhen's inaugural city-wide permit for fully driverless commercial robotaxi operations. The October 2025 authorization allows deployment across nearly 2,000 square kilometers without human safety drivers, positioning the company as a leader in China's autonomous mobility sector.
The company plans aggressive expansion, targeting a fleet exceeding 3,000 vehicles by end-2026—a threefold increase from its current 961 robotaxis. This growth follows a 72% year-on-year revenue surge to $25.4 million in Q3, though net losses reached $61.6 million during the same period.
Lidar suppliers Hesai and RoboSense stand to benefit from Pony.ai's scaling plans. While the company has confirmed fully driverless capabilities in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, city-wide permissions outside Shenzhen remain pending.
