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The robotaxi service is provided by Pony.ai, a company established in 2016, which launched its fully autonomous driving service at the end of 2022.
We are currently riding in the sixth-generation model of Pony.ai. A key feature of this vehicle is its use of automotive-grade solid-state LiDAR, which makes its appearance indistinguishable from a regular car while also enhancing integration and reducing costs. This is the world’s first fully autonomous vehicle to utilize solid-state LiDAR, representing a mature development of the entire supply chain and an inevitable outcome of technological iteration.

Over the past five to six years, in several major Chinese cities, the development of autonomous vehicles has advanced in tandem with supportive policies. The progression of regulations related to autonomous driving has been very systematic. For example, in Yizhuang, Beijing, where we are now, the policies have been implemented step-by-step to support the growth of autonomous driving while ensuring a legal framework. Each autonomous vehicle must pass a series of "tests" at a testing facility, with contingency plans developed for various stages.

Looking ahead, there will be further expansion into larger areas such as airports and train stations. In technical terms, this is known as a “sandbox” environment, which allows autonomous driving to rapidly develop within a controlled scope. It's an exciting prospect to look forward to.
Pony.ai actually has three product lines. In addition to autonomous passenger vehicles, they are also developing autonomous trucks. The third line focuses on POV (Passenger Vehicle Intelligent Driving). After years of iterating on autonomous driving technology, Pony.ai is leveraging the data and technical capabilities accumulated in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) to provide better driving experiences for car manufacturers, specifically focusing on Level 2+ autonomy.

Last year, Pony.ai formed a joint venture with Toyota China and GAC Toyota to produce autonomous passenger vehicles. With the establishment of a dedicated production line, the speed and volume of production are expected to increase significantly, which will accelerate commercialization as the scale expands. The first vehicles are expected to launch between 2025 and 2026.

Currently, many of the vehicles in operation are still hybrid models. The next model will be a fully electric vehicle, which is undoubtedly the future trend due to its higher efficiency. All the necessary hardware modifications and installations will be completed on the production line itself, with sensors pre-installed during manufacturing. By the time the vehicle rolls off the production line, it will already be equipped as an autonomous driving vehicle from a hardware perspective.

00:37 starting
01:52 how to book
03:30 taxi arrived
04:33 inside view
05:51 start ride
12:04 finished ride
13:04 fair