China’s Silicon Valley, Shenzhen, will soon launch self-driving taxis citywide after years of limited pilot zones. Pony.ai is the first company to receive a robotaxi permit for the entire city, with coverage to be rolled out in phases. This marks a significant step in China’s efforts to integrate autonomous vehicles into daily transport.

Pony.ai’s partnership with local taxi firm Xihu Group aims to deploy over 1,000 seventh-generation robotaxis across Shenzhen in the coming years. The company unveiled its latest taxi model in April, boasting a 70% reduction in materials costs compared to previous versions. The new robotaxi was developed in collaboration with Toyota and Chinese state-owned operators BAIC and GAC.

Read more at CNBC: China’s Pony.ai gets the first permit for robotaxis in all of Shenzhen