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Key Takeaways
- Uber and Pony AI announced a partnership Tuesday to bring Pony AI's robotaxis to Uber's platform.
- The companies plan to launch their partnership with the Middle East in later this year.
- Uber is aligning itself with manufacturers of autonomous vehicles, and this is just the latest in a series of collaborations.
Uber Technologies (UBER), and Chinese autonomous vehicle manufacturer Pony AI (PONY), announced a partnership on Tuesday to bring Pony AI’s roboticaxis onto Uber’s platform.
The companies plan on expanding their collaboration to other markets in the future. They will launch this collaboration in the Middle East at the end of this year. Uber users in the covered areas will be able to select a Pony AI robotaxi for their trip, and the companies said all rides will come with a "safety operator" until Pony AI's fully autonomous software launches.
“Partnering with Uber accelerates our shared mission to make autonomous mobility a real, everyday experience for more consumers around the world," Pony AI CEO Dr. James Peng said.
Uber has formed several partnerships with autonomous vehicle companies such as Alphabet’s Waymo and WeRide. Pony previously partnered up with automakers, such as Toyota (TM), to develop and produce its robotaxis.
Uber will report its first quarter results on Wednesday.
In Tuesday’s morning trading, Uber shares were down about 1% while Pony AI rose 4%.
