Pony AI nears full-year robotaxi target despite scaling hurdles
Over 200 of the company's Gen-7 Robotaxi vehicles have been rolled out since mass production started two months ago, putting the firm on track to hit its 1,000 vehicle goal by year-end, chief executive officer James Peng said.
'We have laid a solid foundation for large-scale commercial robotaxi operation,' Peng told an earnings call late Tuesday (Aug 12). Robotaxi services revenue climbed 158 per cent to US$1.5 million in the second quarter from the same period in 2024, according to a company filing.
Still, the road to scaling hundreds of commercial robotaxis remains challenging. Most countries, other than the US and China, remain unready for large-scale deployment, chief financial officer Leo Wang told the call. The current limitations mean it could take time to develop a sustainable fare-charging business model, he said.
'I would also emphasise that scaling a full driverless robotaxis fleet demands a fundamentally higher level of safety and operation rigour,' he added. 'This leap from dozens to hundreds is a big jump in complexity.'
Second-quarter net loss amounted to US$53.3 million, compared to US$30.9 million in the same period last year. Research and development expenses rose 69 per cent to US$49 million from the same quarter in 2024, amid higher investments for Gen-7 vehicles. BLOOMBERG
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