Stellantis and Pony.ai Partner on European Robotaxi Fleet
▼ Summary
– Stellantis and Pony.ai have signed a non-binding agreement to jointly develop robotaxis for the European market.
– The partnership will combine Pony.ai’s autonomous driving software with Stellantis’ electric van platform designed for self-driving vehicles.
– Initial testing will use Peugeot e-Traveller vehicles in Luxembourg starting soon, with broader European deployment planned from 2026.
– This collaboration follows Pony.ai’s recent partnership with Uber and its April permit for autonomous vehicle testing in Luxembourg.
– Pony.ai is expanding beyond China while pursuing a secondary listing in Hong Kong alongside its existing Nasdaq presence.
A major new partnership between global automaker Stellantis and the autonomous driving technology firm Pony.ai is set to bring a fleet of robotaxis to European streets. The two companies have entered into a non-binding memorandum of understanding, focusing on the development and eventual deployment of self-driving vehicles across the continent. This initiative represents a significant step in the expansion of autonomous ride-hailing services within the European market.
The core of the collaboration involves integrating Pony.ai’s proprietary self-driving software directly into Stellantis’s dedicated electric van platform. This particular vehicle architecture is designed from the ground up to support autonomous operations, already incorporating the necessary advanced sensor suites. The plan is to utilize this combined hardware and software package to create a commercial robotaxi service.
Initial testing will commence in the coming months using vehicles based on the Peugeot e-Traveller model. Luxembourg, where Pony.ai has established its European headquarters, will serve as the first proving ground. Following this testing phase, the alliance aims for a broader commercial rollout, introducing more vehicles across various European urban centers starting in 2026.
This European venture is a key component of Pony.ai’s strategic push to grow its footprint beyond its established operations in China. The company is actively seeking to capture market share in new international territories. This move follows another recent strategic alliance Pony.ai formed with Uber, targeting deployment in markets including Europe and the Middle East. The company’s progress was further bolstered in April when it secured an autonomous vehicle testing permit from the Luxembourg government.
Concurrently, Pony.ai is advancing its financial strategy by pursuing a secondary initial public offering. While the company is already publicly traded on the Nasdaq exchange, it is now actively working towards a secondary listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. This effort is part of a broader strategy to strengthen its capital base and support its ambitious global expansion plans.
(Source: TechCrunch)
