inDrive, Pony.ai and NVIDIA have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore the potential launch of driverless taxi services in Kazakhstan. Astana is planned to be the project’s first test city, with rides expected to be booked through the inDrive app.
Robotaxi launch timeline
The three companies intend to develop a roadmap for the project and assess the technical, operational and regulatory requirements for its launch. No specific timeline has been announced. The service would launch only after an agreement with Kazakhstan’s government.
Pony.ai is expected to provide its seventh-generation (Gen-7) robotaxis, while inDrive will be responsible for the ride-hailing platform and service operations. NVIDIA will provide technological support, with the project built around the NVIDIA Hyperion platform and NVIDIA Halos safety system.
How the robotaxi service would work
The project will explore the use of Level 4-ready autonomous vehicles, which are designed to operate without a human driver within designated areas.
According to the companies, Pony.ai’s autonomous driving technology has demonstrated its capabilities in fully driverless commercial operations across major Chinese cities, with deployments also reported across Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Following the initial launch in Astana, the partners will assess the potential to expand the service to other cities in Kazakhstan and additional markets where inDrive operates.
What the partners say
Arsen Tomsky, founder and CEO of inDrive, said the partners want to explore how robotaxis would operate on Kazakhstan’s roads and what opportunities they could bring to drivers and passengers. He also highlighted Astana’s climate, with its long winters and heavy snowfall.
Pony.ai aims to adapt its technology to local conditions. The company’s founder and CEO, Dr. James Peng, said Kazakhstan presents an opportunity to bring autonomous mobility to a new market in Central Asia.
NVIDIA emphasized that safety and the ability of AI systems to handle the complexity of real-world driving are essential to the development of autonomous mobility services.