Toyota-Backed Pony.ai Expands Its Robotaxi Business Into China

Self-driving robotaxis are fast becoming a reality. Pony.ai’s 100-car project in China is just the most recent progression in the industry.
Written by Andrew Koole
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Pony.ai
is one of many companies doing their best to bring
self-driving cars
to the masses. The Toyota-supported company already has autonomous taxis roaming the streets in cities across California. But its sights aren’t set on the Golden State alone.
Beyond its headquarters in Fremont, Pony.ai has locations in Beijing and Guangzhou, China as well, and is about to set driverless vehicles free onto the two cities’ streets
What will Pony.ai’s robotaxi service in China look like? How will it compare to the startup’s presence in California?
Jerry
, your car ownership
super app
, has the answers.

Pony.ai’s connection to China

The link between Pony.ai and China runs deep. Its founders, James Peng and Tianchang Lou, were both born in the country and worked together in Silicon Valley for Baidu, a Chinese tech company.
Pony.ai ran its first public trial-run in Irvine, California, just south of Los Angelos, but
Venture Beat
says the company’s first pilot actually took place in Guangzhou, China. 
The ride-hailing program only served employees and invited affiliates, but its success helped the company take the next step in its self-driving future: obtaining taxi licenses.
Approval was first given in Beijing, but
Reuters
says the program in the country’s capital is much smaller than the proposed service coming to Guangzhou, where Pony.ai plans to unleash 100 robotaxis.
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What does Pony.ai’s self-driving taxi program look like in California?

Since 2019, Pony.ai has run its “BotRide” program in Irvine, California, equipping 10 Hyundai Kona Electrics with self-driving tech. Venture Beat says the public can hail rides from the EVs for free using an app called Via.
As the program in Irvine continued, Pony.ai gained approval to expand BotRide near its Fremont headquarters. Testing began in Fremont and the neighboring community of Milpitas in June 2021, using six vehicles.
But the project in Fremont hit a speedbump when one self-driving car veered off the road and hit a traffic sign in October. A suspension of its driverless testing permit followed, along with a recall of Pony.ai’s software by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). 
Since then, the company’s programs in California have needed
human minders
in the vehicles’ passenger seats in order to adhere to the state’s safety protocols.

What other roadblocks do self-driving cars face in the U.S.?

MORE: Self-Driving Rideshare Cars From Cruise Are Coming to California
Pony.ai isn’t the only self-driving tech company experiencing software troubles. Tesla has also come under fire by regulators because of safety concerns about its semi-autonomous programs, AutoPilot and Full Self-Driving. 
Fully autonomous vehicles will also have to contend with the problem of liability—will companies be held responsible for accidents caused by their self-driving vehicles, or will the vehicle’s owner still need
liability coverage
?
As technology changes in the auto industry, your car insurance needs will change, too. Jerry’s friendly agents are here to answer your questions and provide advice on the best coverage options. 
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