Pony.ai and Uber Plan More Than 2,000 Robotaxis Across EuropePony.ai, a leader in autonomous driving tech, is joining forces with Uber to expand their operations in Europe, planning to launch over 2,000 robotaxis in four new cities. This initiative will enhance the existing service in Zagreb, Croatia, by integrating Pony.ai's advanced technology with Uber's well-known ride-hailing system, paving the way for a pioneering driverless transportation model on the continent.Chinese autonomous driving company Pony.ai and Uber are expanding their partnership with real ambition, plans to deploy more than 2,000 robotaxis across Europe, marking a genuinely significant push to actually commercialize driverless mobility on the continent.The two companies said on August 14 that this expansion builds directly on their existing robotaxi service in Zagreb, Croatia, and will extend operations out to four more European cities.About The AuthorHey there, i am a technology enthusiast with a deep passion for gadgets, consumer electronics, emerging technologies, and the fast-paced world of digital innovation. Constantly exploring the latest tech trends, product launches, and industry developments, I enjoy translating complex technological advancements into engaging and accessible stories for readers. My interests span smartphones, wearables, artificial intelligence, smart devices, and the broader technology ecosystem. As I begin my journey as a Tech Journalist at Gadgets Now, I am excited to contribute to a platform that informs millions of readers, combining my passion for technology with storytelling to deliver insightful, accurate, and timely tech coverage.Which cities exactly, and on what timeline, hasn't been disclosed yet. This partnership will also explore robotaxi deployments in the Middle East. Altogether, this brings together Pony.ai's autonomous driving tech, Uber's ride hailing platform, and local fleet operators, all in an effort to build a genuinely scalable model for driverless transportation.Pony.ai's Technology Powers the Robotaxi PushPony.ai is a Chinese autonomous driving tech company focused on developing and commercializing driverless vehicles, robotaxis and robotrucks included. The company says its tech is built for Level 4 autonomous driving, a classification where vehicles can handle driving tasks without human intervention, as long as they're operating within defined conditions.Pony.ai's already expanded well beyond China at this point, with commercial robotaxi operations already running in Croatia, plus services or testing underway across several other international markets.Based on company disclosures, this European expansion is meant to build directly on experience the company's accumulated running autonomous vehicles in genuinely complex urban environments. Its technology will form the actual core of the vehicles deployed under this expanded Uber partnership.How Uber and Pony.ai Will Divide the WorkThis expanded partnership is built around a joint deployment model, where different companies handle different pieces of the robotaxi business. Pony.ai's providing the autonomous driving tech, while Uber's supplying the ride hailing platform people will actually use to access the service.Local partners can take on fleet operations, charging, maintenance, cleaning, all of it, according to the companies. Vehicle ownership can also vary depending on the market too.More articles by AuthorTrending StoriesThis approach really lets the partners combine tech, customer reach, and local operational expertise, rather than forcing one single company to manage the entire service alone. This model could genuinely make it easier to scale robotaxi operations across multiple European markets at once.Zagreb Is the Launchpad for European ExpansionZagreb sits at the center of the companies' European strategy simply because it already provides an existing commercial base for this partnership.Pony.ai and Uber first started working together back in May 2025, initially focusing on international expansion, before eventually moving into Europe with a commercial robotaxi service in Croatia's capital.That service actually launched alongside local mobility company Verne. The companies now plan to build on that experience by expanding into four additional European cities.Pony.ai says the Zagreb service will also soon become available directly through Uber's app, potentially giving customers a familiar, easy way to actually request an autonomous ride. The partners haven't disclosed the next four destinations just yet.When Will the Robotaxis Be Available and Which Countries?The companies have announced this European expansion, but they haven't given a firm completion date for actually deploying more than 2,000 vehicles. They also haven't named the four additional European cities, or specified exactly which countries will get these vehicles first.For now, Croatia remains the only European country publicly confirmed to have an operating commercial Pony.ai robotaxi service under this partnership, through Zagreb specifically.The companies say further rollout details will come in phases. Beyond Europe, this expanded agreement also includes plans for robotaxi deployments in the Middle East, though no specific countries or launch dates have been announced there either.Why the Partnership Matters for Uber's Autonomous StrategyFor Uber, this agreement really strengthens a strategy built around working with multiple autonomous vehicle developers, rather than trying to build all the underlying tech itself from scratch. The company's partnered with more than 30 autonomous vehicle companies in recent years, based on info the companies have published.By combining Pony.ai's driverless tech with Uber's established customer base, payment infrastructure, and ride hailing network, Uber can potentially roll out autonomous services without needing to own the entire tech stack itself.This European expansion also gives Uber another way into a market where robotaxi operators are actively competing to establish real commercial services. For Pony.ai, meanwhile, Uber offers access to a genuinely massive international mobility platform.Why Europe Is Becoming a Key Robotaxi BattlegroundThis planned deployment comes as autonomous vehicle companies increasingly chase commercial opportunities well outside their home markets. Pony.ai's been steadily expanding its international footprint while building out partnerships with transportation companies and ride hailing platforms.Its own disclosures say the company's targeting more than 20 cities worldwide, and it's already established operations or partnerships across several regions. Europe presents both a real opportunity and a real challenge here, since autonomous vehicles have to operate within different national regulatory and transportation environments depending on where they're deployed.This expanded Uber partnership could help Pony.ai work with local operators while gaining access to Uber's already established platform. The companies choosing to withhold city names and timing also really highlights the regulatory and operational hurdles still sitting ahead of them.What the 2,000-Robotaxi Plan Means for European MobilityThis planned fleet of more than 2,000 vehicles would represent a genuinely substantial expansion of commercial autonomous mobility across Europe, though it's worth remembering this figure's still a target, not a completed deployment. The companies haven't said how these vehicles will actually get distributed among the five European cities, Zagreb included, or when the full fleet will actually become operational.Success here will really come down to regulatory approvals, local fleet infrastructure, vehicle availability, and how willing the public actually is to hop into one of these. Still, this partnership signals something real, robotaxis are moving beyond limited demonstrations and into genuinely larger commercial networks now.By combining Pony.ai's autonomous tech, Uber's marketplace, and local fleet management partners, these companies are chasing a model that can hopefully get replicated across Europe, and eventually other regions too. FAQsWhat are the plans for the Uber and Pony.ai partnership in Europe?Uber and Pony.ai are expanding their partnership to deploy over 2,000 robotaxis across Europe, building on their existing service in Zagreb, Croatia, and extending operations to four additional cities.How does Pony.ai's technology contribute to the robotaxi services?Pony.ai specializes in Level 4 autonomous driving technology, allowing vehicles to operate without human intervention in specific conditions. This technology will be central to the robotaxi services developed in collaboration with Uber.When will the additional robotaxi services be available and in which cities?While the companies have announced plans for European expansion, they have not provided specific launch dates or the names of the four additional cities, with Croatia currently being the only known location with an operational service.How does the joint-deployment model work between Uber and Pony.ai?In the joint-deployment model, Pony.ai will provide the autonomous technology, Uber will offer its ride-hailing platform, and local partners will handle fleet operations, making the development and expansion of robotaxi services more efficient.Why is the partnership relevant for Uber's strategy in autonomous vehicles?The partnership enhances Uber's strategy of collaborating with various autonomous-vehicle developers instead of relying solely on in-house technology, allowing them to leverage Pony.ai's expertise while utilizing their own ride-hailing network.end of article