inDrive Teams Up With Pony.ai and Nvidia to Launch Kazakhstan Robotaxi Pilot in 2027
What Happened
Ride-hailing platform inDrive has signed a memorandum of understanding with Pony.ai and Nvidia to explore autonomous ride-hailing services in Kazakhstan, with supervised robotaxi testing planned in Astana in the first half of 2027. Pony.ai would provide its Gen-7 robotaxis, inDrive would operate the service through its app, and Nvidia would supply AI and safety technology, including its Hyperion and Halos platforms. Initial trials are expected to include a safety operator.
Key Takeaways
The announcement signals a push to expand robotaxi deployments beyond the United States and China. Kazakhstan was selected as the first test market due to its emerging regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles, while the partnership combines ride-hailing, autonomous driving, and AI infrastructure expertise.