Pony.ai greenlighted to conduct pilot operation of autonomous cars in Shanghai's city center

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On July 26, during the 8th World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) held in Shanghai, Chinese autonomous driving solution developer Pony.ai announced it had received the first batch of new licenses for intelligent connected vehicle demonstration operations in Shanghai, according to a press release issued by Pony.ai.

The milestone represents a significant breakthrough following Pony.ai's acquisition of the first batch of autonomous vehicle demonstration application licenses in Shanghai's Pudong New Area in July 2024. Pony.ai has established autonomous driving commercial operation network in four major first-tier cities — Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. 

With the opening of the third batch of autonomous driving testing roads in Pudong New Area, the total length of open testing roads in Shanghai has now surpassed 2,700 kilometers, including parts of the city center within the inner ring. As one of the first companies approved for such operations, Pony.ai has partnered with Jin Jiang Transport, a subsidiary of Jin Jiang International, to gradually roll out autonomous driving services, starting from the core areas of Jinqiao and Huamu in Pudong New Area.

Passengers within the service area of the Jinqiao district can now hail a Robotaxi with a single click using the "Pony.ai" APP, WeChat or Alipay Mini Programs. The launch of this service not only marks a new stage in the commercialization of smart connected vehicles in Shanghai, but also brings autonomous driving technology into the daily lives of city residents.

During the WAIC 2025 from July 26 to July 29, Pony.ai offered Robotaxi services around the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center, allowing citizens to experience the technology. The service covered popular locations such as the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center and the China Art Palace, providing a firsthand experience of the revolutionary changes and conveniences in urban mobility. At the same event, Pony.ai also showcased its seventh-generation Robotaxi, the BAIC's ARCFOX Alpha T5 Robotaxi.

In recent years, Shanghai has intensified efforts in the smart connected vehicle sector, driving industry development through incremental policy openings. From initial road testing to the current demonstration operation licenses, Shanghai has progressively built a robust regulatory framework and technical standards, providing strong support for the commercialization of autonomous driving technology.

Pony.ai has been at the forefront of each key milestone in this process. In May 2023, the company formed a strategic partnership with Jin Jiang Transport in Jiading District (Shanghai) to launch intelligent taxi demonstration operations, becoming one of the first to participate in the commercialization of intelligent connected taxis in Shanghai. In July 2023, Pony.ai achieved another breakthrough by obtaining the first batch of road testing permits for intelligent connected vehicles in Pudong New Area. In July 2024, at the WAIC 2024, Pony.ai became a trailblazer once again, securing the first batch of demonstration application licenses for intelligent connected vehicles under Pudong New Area's legislation.

In April 2025, Pony.ai made a major announcement at the Auto Shanghai 2025, unveiling its seventh-generation autonomous driving system. In partnership with Toyota Motor, BAIC Group, and GAC Group, Pony.ai launched three mass-produced Robotaxi models, reducing the cost of autonomous driving kits by 70% and demonstrating the technology's reliability through 500,000 hours of safe operation.