Stellantis teams up with Pony.ai to develop robotaxis in Europe

In an exciting development for the autonomous vehicle industry, Stellantis, the prominent automaker, has partnered with Pony.ai, a leading Chinese autonomous vehicle firm, to create robotaxis tailored for the European market. This strategic collaboration is set to merge Pony.ai's advanced self-driving technology with Stellantis's electric medium-sized van platform, equipped with state-of-the-art sensors essential for autonomous driving. The initial phase of this venture will see test vehicles based on the Peugeot e-Traveller model, with trials commencing in Luxembourg, which serves as Pony.ai's European base, within the upcoming months. Following successful testing, the companies aim to expand their fleet of robotaxis across various European cities, with a target rollout starting in 2026. This partnership unfolds shortly after Pony.ai's recent alliance with Uber, aimed at launching operations in global markets, including Europe and the Middle East. Additionally, the company secured an autonomous vehicle testing permit from Luxembourg in April, further solidifying its ambitions in the European landscape. As Pony.ai seeks to broaden its market presence outside of China, it is also preparing for a second IPO, building on its existing listing on the Nasdaq while eyeing a secondary listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.