Pony.ai and Uber to begin testing seventh-generation robotaxi in London within weeks
In short
Autonomous driving company Pony.ai and Uber said on October 8 that they are working to bring Pony.ai's seventh-generation robotaxi to London, with testing expected to start in the coming weeks. Jiemian and 36Kr reported the tests will be road tests; CLS said the plan was announced in a Pony.ai WeChat post.
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Pony.ai and Uber announced on October 8 that they are working to bring Pony.ai's seventh-generation robotaxi to London, with testing expected to begin in the coming weeks. CLS reported the plan citing a Pony.ai announcement on WeChat. Jiemian and 36Kr said the tests would be road tests, and Jiemian wrote that London would be another important city in the two companies' strategy for deploying robotaxis at scale in Europe. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The London plan follows earlier steps in the partnership. According to IT Home, Pony.ai and Uber announced a strategic partnership in May 2025 under which Pony.ai's robotaxi service and fleet would join the Uber platform in the second half of that year. In March this year Pony.ai reached an agreement with Verne and Uber to launch what IT Home called Europe's first commercial robotaxi service in Zagreb, the Croatian capital; that service went live in August and can be hailed through the Uber app. Jiemian reported that in August the two companies also deepened their partnership, planning to deploy more than 2,000 driverless robotaxis across five European cities. [ 2 , 3 ]
IT Home reported that Pony.ai's core businesses are robotaxi services, autonomous trucking (Robotruck) and intelligent solutions, with commercial operations under way in China, the United States and Europe. The company aims to grow its robotaxi fleet to more than 3,500 vehicles and its operations to more than 20 cities worldwide by the end of 2026, and expects robotaxi service revenue to reach 3.5 times its 2025 level, according to IT Home. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
Jiemian described London as another important city in the two companies' strategy for deploying robotaxis at scale in Europe, after they said in August they plan to deploy more than 2,000 driverless robotaxis in five European cities. The move extends a partnership that IT Home said already runs a commercial robotaxi service in Zagreb.
Key facts
- Pony.ai and Uber announced on October 8 that they are advancing plans to bring Pony.ai's seventh-generation robotaxi to London. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Testing is expected to start within the coming weeks. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Jiemian and 36Kr described the planned tests as road tests. [ 3 , 4 ]
- In August, Pony.ai and Uber deepened their partnership with a plan to deploy more than 2,000 driverless robotaxis in five European cities, Jiemian reported. [ 3 ]
- A robotaxi service by Pony.ai, Verne and Uber launched in Zagreb, Croatia, in August and can be booked through the Uber app, IT Home reported. [ 2 ]
- Pony.ai aims to expand its robotaxi fleet to more than 3,500 vehicles and to more than 20 cities worldwide by the end of 2026, according to IT Home. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Where in London the tests will take place, how many vehicles will be involved, and whether a safety driver will be on board. None of the reports give these details.
- Which five European cities are covered by the plan to deploy more than 2,000 driverless robotaxis, and whether London is one of them. Only Jiemian mentions the five-city plan, and it does not name the cities.
- When a commercial service in London might start. The reports cover testing only and give no date for a commercial launch.
- The planned London tests are road tests. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- CLS reports the London testing plan, citing a Pony.ai WeChat announcement. [ 1 ]
- IT Home reports the plan with background on the Pony.ai–Uber partnership. [ 2 ]
- Jiemian reports the plan and the companies' five-city European deployment goal. [ 3 ]
- 36Kr reports that road tests are expected to start in the coming weeks. [ 4 ]