Chinese autonomous vehicle startup Pony.ai is expanding its driverless robotaxi services in the fast-paced market, with a newly introduced service in Shenzhen marking their latest step. The company received a permit to operate robotaxi services without an onboard safety officer in the city’s core areas, as reported by CnEVPost. Since its foundation in 2016, Pony.ai has established research and development centers in several locations, including Silicon Valley, Guangzhou, Beijing, and Shanghai. The company has also launched the robotaxi app PonyPilot in December 2018 and operated unmanned robotaxi services in Beijing and Guangzhou.
As a Toyota Motor and NIO Capital backed company, Pony.ai aims to stay at the forefront of China’s rapidly growing autonomous vehicle market. The Chinese government actively supports this sector, labeling self-driving cars as a key strategic area for growth. They aim to have vehicles with partial self-driving technology account for 50% of all new-auto sales by 2025. However, Pony.ai faces intense rivalry from competitors such as Baidu and Didi Chuxing, with the company highlighting that driverless vehicles require rigorous testing before hitting the road.
A considerable amount of investor and automaker interest has fueled the autonomous car market. Companies like Waymo, Cruise, and Zoox have launched their own robotaxi services worldwide. Part of the appeal of robotaxis is their potential to reduce traffic, lower transportation costs, and improve safety. By allowing a fleet of self-driving cars to be programmed for the most efficient travel possible, traffic jams and waiting times can be significantly diminished. Reduced traffic congestion will help tackle air pollution and environmental degradation caused by long idling times in congested traffic.
While the roll-out of autonomous vehicles has definite advantages, it’s necessary to consider the potential for data security risks, network vulnerabilities, and extreme scenarios that thoroughly challenge self-driving technology. According to Pony.ai, a comprehensive assessment by experts and government departments is crucial. The company claims it has more than 1 million kilometers of fully unmanned testing and nearly 200,000 paid travel orders.
In conclusion, the introduction of Pony.ai’s robotaxi services in Shenzhen reflects the accelerated pace of self-driving technology adoption in China. As a pioneer in the autonomous vehicle market, the company is striving to maintain its competitive edge and fulfil its promise of drastically improved transportation solutions. Despite initial hurdles, China’s commitment to having 50% of new-auto sales come from vehicles with partial self-driving technology by 2025 is a clear indication of this market’s immense growth potential.
Source: Cryptonews
