Pony.ai has been granted Shenzhen’s first citywide permit for fully driverless commercial robotaxi operations, allowing the company and its partner, Shenzhen Xihu Corporation Limited, to offer services throughout the city. The permit, issued jointly to Pony.ai and Xihu Group, facilitates scalable driverless operations in one of China’s major innovation centers, with initial services launching in Nanshan, Qianhai, and Baoan districts before expanding citywide.
Shenzhen, often referred to as China’s Silicon Valley, spans nearly 2,000 square kilometers and has a population of 17.8 million, making it a key market for testing and deploying autonomous vehicles. The city’s dense urban environment and advanced technology ecosystem, home to firms like Tencent and BYD, highlight the commercial potential of driverless mobility in large Chinese metropolitan areas.
Partnership and Deployment Plans
Pony.ai and Xihu Group formed a strategic partnership in June 2025 and aim to deploy over 1,000 units of Pony.ai’s seventh-generation robotaxis in Shenzhen in the coming years. Following the permit approval, the companies will begin rolling out these vehicles for fully driverless commercial services, emphasizing an asset-light and AI-empowered model to streamline operations.
Under this model, Xihu Group provides expertise in fleet management and safety operations, while Pony.ai focuses on advancing AI technologies and scalable dispatch systems. This collaboration is designed to accelerate the citywide deployment of autonomous mobility, leveraging Shenzhen’s robust transportation network and innovation-driven economy.
Broader Context in China’s Autonomous Driving Sector
Pony.ai has accumulated over 55 million kilometers of autonomous testing globally and is the only company authorized for fully driverless commercial robotaxi services in all four of China’s Tier-1 cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. The company currently operates a fleet of more than 720 robotaxis and plans to increase this to 1,000 by the end of 2025, supporting China’s push for leadership in autonomous vehicle technology.
This development aligns with broader Chinese policies promoting smart transportation and innovation in high-tech industries, as cities like Shenzhen serve as testbeds for scaling autonomous driving solutions. The permit underscores progress in commercializing driverless technologies within China’s dynamic urban landscapes, potentially influencing global standards for autonomous mobility.
