Pony AI Inc. and Shenzhen Xihu Corporation Limited received Shenzhen’s first citywide permit to operate fully driverless commercial robotaxis on October 31, 2025. The approval covers the entire city, including the Nanshan, Qianhai, and Baoan districts, and allows the companies to expand service to additional districts in the future.
The joint permit was granted to the two firms after a partnership formed in June 2025. Under the agreement, the companies plan to deploy more than 1,000 Gen‑7 robotaxis in Shenzhen over the coming years, leveraging Xihu’s fleet‑management expertise and Pony AI’s autonomous‑driving technology. The partnership also positions Pony AI as the only company authorized to operate fully driverless commercial robotaxi services across all four Chinese Tier‑1 cities—Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen.
Pony AI’s Q2 2025 results showed revenue of $21.5 million, up 75.9% year‑over‑year, driven by robotaxi services and fare‑charging revenue. The company reported a net loss of 381.6 million yuan ($53.3 million) as operating expenses rose. The firm has accumulated more than 55 million kilometers of autonomous testing globally and currently operates a fleet of over 720 robotaxis, targeting 1,000 vehicles by year‑end 2025.
Shenzhen has been a pioneer in autonomous‑vehicle regulation, introducing rules in 2022 that allow fully autonomous vehicles to operate without human controls in designated areas. The citywide permit builds on that foundation and validates Pony AI’s asset‑light, AI‑empowered commercialization model, which partners with traditional transportation operators to scale deployment.
The permit is expected to enable 24/7 driverless service throughout Shenzhen, accelerating user adoption and revenue growth. The company plans to roll out the expanded service in phases, beginning with the districts covered by the current approval and extending to other districts as the fleet grows.
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