We’re one step closer to the high-tech life that sci-fi dreams are made of. Autonomous vehicle tech company Pony.ai, which is based in Guangzhou, is looking to launch its robotaxi services in Hong Kong as part of its global expansion plans.
The Hong Kong Airport Authority has recently announced that driverless cars will be in operation within the airport, hopefully by the end of 2026. Pony.ai will bring its sixth-generation fully unmanned robotaxis for airport staff to commute within the airport grounds. They plan to then take this opportunity to gradually extend its services into the urban areas of Hong Kong.
Currently, the company is already operating an autonomous driving shuttle service at Beijing Daxing International Airport, and has been carrying out test drives along the expressway leading in and out of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in preparation for future passenger services. Pony.ai is the first autonomous driving company in China to obtain driverless travel service licenses in the four first-tier cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen.
The NASDAQ-listed company has not provided a specific time frame for its launch in Hong Kong, but they do join Chinese tech giant Baidu in eyeing up our market. In late November 2024, the artificial intelligence and technology MNC was granted a license to test their Apollo Go Robotaxi service in northern Lantau Island. Apollo Go is already operating in several mainland Chinese cities, with their largest fleet of 400 vehicles serving Wuhan.
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