Chinese robotaxi company Pony.ai to work with Stellantis on Europe expansion

Chinese robotaxi company Pony.ai announced Friday it is working with Stellantis for testing self-driving taxis in Europe.

The companies said they will start tests in the coming months in Luxembourg, where Pony.ai’s European division is headquartered. Starting next year, the companies plan “a gradual rollout across European cities.”

Pony.ai will provide the autonomous driving software, while Stellantis — which owns brands including Chrysler, Citroën and Jeep — will provide the electric vehicles, starting with the Peugeot e-Traveller.

Deploying robotaxis for the mass market typically starts with local testing on public roads in order to establish a safety track record for obtaining regulatory approval.

“Pony.ai stands out for their technical expertise and collaborative approach,”

Stellantis’ Chief Engineering and Technology Officer Ned Curic said that Pony.ai is known for its “technical expertise and collaborative approach.” He noted that the automaker has built car systems for autonomous driving integration and is “partnering with the best players in the industry.”

Major U.S. and Chinese cities have been some of the first in the world to allow local companies to operate public-facing robotaxis.

The companies have, in the last year, ramped up efforts to expand to the Middle East and Europe.

Earlier this week, U.S. robotaxi operator Waymo announced plans to start tests in London before launching the self-driving taxi service there next year. Waymo is owned by Google parent Alphabet.

Pony.ai and its Chinese rival WeRide are both listed in the U.S. The two companies this week received Chinese regulatory approval for their plans to offer shares in a dual listing in Hong Kong.

—CNBC’s Lora Kolodny contributed to this report.