Pony.ai (NASDAQ: PONY), a leader in autonomous driving, has officially entered the Singapore market. The company is partnering with ComfortDelGro, the nation’s largest transport service provider, to launch self-driving mobility services in Punggol. Operations will begin once regulatory approvals are secured.
The rollout supports Singapore’s strategy to integrate autonomous vehicles (AVs) into public transport. By the end of 2025, the Ministry of Transport aims to introduce AVs in public housing estates, with Punggol being the first focus area. The plan is designed to tackle driver shortages and improve connectivity, especially during off-peak hours when demand remains unmet.
Dr. James Peng, Founder and CEO of Pony.ai, said,
“We are thrilled to introduce Pony.ai’s advanced autonomous driving technology to Singapore. By delivering safe, comfortable, and efficient autonomous mobility services, we are committed to enhancing local residents’ daily commutes and advancing the nation’s smart mobility vision.”
WeRide and Grab Compete for Singapore’s Growing Robotaxi Market
Pony.ai’s arrival comes with immediate competition. The press release highlighted that Chinese rival WeRide, in partnership with Grab Holdings, launched its Ai.R shuttle service in the same Punggol district. The Land Transport Authority tapped WeRide to operate Singapore’s first autonomous shuttle routes.
WeRide has deployed 11 vehicles, including five-seater GXRs and eight-seater Robobus models, across two fixed routes. Both passed Singapore’s rigorous Milestone 1 safety assessment, giving them the green light for public road operations.
The competitive tension is already showing in the market. WeRide’s stock has dropped 19% year-to-date amid investor concerns about intensifying rivalry, while Pony.ai (NASDAQ: PONY) has surged more than 44% over the same period. Investors appear to be betting that Pony.ai’s technology and global partnerships will give it an edge.
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Pony.ai Robotaxi Services Scale Across China’s Tier-1 Cities
Pony.ai is no stranger to large-scale deployment. The company already operates fully driverless robotaxis across all four of China’s tier-1 cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. These operations span over 2,000 square kilometers, with the company logging more than 50 million kilometers of autonomous driving globally.
User adoption is also accelerating. Registered users on Pony.ai’s ride-hailing platform jumped 136% year-over-year in Q2 2025. Despite rapid growth, customer satisfaction remains strong, with ratings above 4.8 out of 5.
The company’s advantage lies in being the only operator with fully driverless, commercially available robotaxis in all four tier-1 cities—a milestone competitors have yet to match.
Accelerates Gen-7 Robotaxi Fleet Production in 2025
Pony.ai is aggressively scaling production to meet surging demand. In June and July, it kicked off mass production of its Gen-7 robotaxis with partners Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) and Beijing Automotive Industry Corporation (BAIC).
More than 200 vehicles are already produced, and the company is targeting a 1,000-vehicle fleet by year-end 2025. Alongside expansion, Pony.ai is driving down costs. Improved efficiency in remote monitoring is expected to reach a 1:30 ratio by the end of this year—meaning one remote assistant will be able to oversee 30 vehicles. Lower insurance costs are also boosting margins.
At the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2025 in Shanghai, Pony.ai stood out as the only company offering fully driverless ride-hailing to the public. It also remained operational during extreme weather events, including typhoons and heavy rains, highlighting the resilience of its technology.
Expands Robotaxi Partnerships in the Middle East and Europe
The Singapore launch is part of a broader global push. Pony.ai recently partnered with Qatar’s national transport company, Mowasalat “Karwa,” to bring autonomous vehicles to the Gulf state. This builds on its earlier collaboration with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
In Europe, the company is conducting road trials with Luxembourg’s Emile Weber, one of the region’s largest transport providers. Meanwhile, in South Korea, Pony.ai runs 24/7 testing in Seoul’s Gangnam district. The company is also working with Uber on joint initiatives in the Middle East.
This multi-region expansion highlights Pony.ai’s strategy: build strong partnerships with local transport leaders while scaling a unified autonomous driving platform across continents.
Autonomous Vehicles and the ESG Climate Question
Autonomous vehicles are often seen as climate-friendly, but the reality is more complex. While most AV fleets, including Pony.ai’s, rely on electric or hybrid-electric vehicles, the carbon footprint depends on several factors:
- Electricity Source: Charging with renewable energy reduces emissions, but fossil-based grids limit climate gains.
- Hardware Energy Use: AVs consume extra power due to sensors, computing, and communications systems.
- Supply Chain: LiDAR systems, batteries, and chipsets add carbon costs if supply chains are not sustainable.
Pony.ai’s partnerships with Toyota, GAC, and BAIC ensure that most of its fleets are electric or hybrid-electric, a positive step toward cleaner mobility. However, the company has yet to publish detailed net-zero targets or disclose its carbon accounting framework. Without formal ESG reporting, it remains unclear how sustainable its operations are in the long term.
PONY Stock Rides Robotaxi Growth Amid ESG Uncertainty
Pony.ai’s Singapore debut marks another milestone in its global expansion. The company is scaling faster than rivals, producing new fleets at a record pace, and securing partnerships across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
With its stock (NASDAQ: PONY) already up more than 40% this year, investors are betting on Pony.ai’s edge in fully driverless technology. But the climate question lingers.
However, the stock has also gained on its financial performance. It shows momentum even as profitability remains elusive. For Q2 2025, Pony.ai reported:
- Total revenue up 76% year-over-year.
- Robotaxi fare revenues up 300% year-over-year.
- Significant progress on cost efficiency through better monitoring ratios and insurance savings.
Although still loss-making, the company’s growth trajectory is catching Wall Street’s attention. Goldman Sachs recently raised its price target for Pony.ai stock to $27.70, maintaining a Buy rating.
As of September 22, 2025, Pony.ai (NASDAQ: PONY) trades at $20.56, giving it a market capitalization of about $7.25 billion. To sum up, the stock is up more than 71% over the past 12 months
For Pony.ai, proving its climate credentials may be the final piece needed to solidify its leadership in the robotaxi race.
