inDrive, a ride-hailing service recognized for enabling fare negotiations between passengers and drivers, is collaborating with the Chinese autonomous driving company Pony.ai and Nvidia to initiate testing of robotaxis in Kazakhstan by 2027. The firms announced on Friday that they have entered into a memorandum of understanding to investigate the integration of Pony.ai’s robotaxis into inDrive’s platform, highlighting the increasing interest in self-driving technology outside of the United States and China.
Testing is set to commence in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, in the first half of 2027, as confirmed by inDrive’s Chief Technology Officer, Yuri Misnik, according to hinews. The initial phase of testing will include a safety operator, with the ultimate aim of achieving fully autonomous rides. As part of the proposed arrangement, Pony.ai will supply its Gen-7 robotaxis, which inDrive will feature on its ride-hailing app and operate within Kazakhstan. Nvidia will contribute its AI technology, encompassing the Hyperion platform and Halos safety system.
This initiative aligns with the broader trend of ride-hailing companies venturing into the realm of robotaxis. Earlier this month, Uber revealed its plans to test Pony.ai’s robotaxis in London, where it has also commenced offering supervised autonomous rides in partnership with the British startup Wayve. Furthermore, Uber is collaborating with various robotaxi firms in other regions, including the Middle East.
inDrive, which has established its business model around providing affordable rides, aims to apply a similar strategy to autonomous ride-hailing as it navigates a competitive market where Uber and other competitors are already active. “Our approach is capital-light by design,” Misnik stated. “We collaborate with a variety of partners across different markets, merging their expertise with ours to enhance the customer experience.”
Nvidia asserts that its Hyperion platform could significantly reduce the costs associated with developing robotaxis by offering companies a pre-existing framework of sensors and computing technology, thus eliminating the need for them to construct and integrate all components independently. The company also provides its Alpamayo model and tools for generating synthetic data and testing autonomous driving systems in diverse driving conditions.
“These cost savings are especially pertinent in emerging markets, where ride-hailing is already relatively economical, and autonomous services must remain competitive on pricing,” remarked Ali Kani, Nvidia’s Vice President of Automotive, according to hinews. The announcement coincided with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s inaugural visit to Kazakhstan on Friday.
The initiative in Kazakhstan further enhances Pony.ai’s efforts to expand beyond its home market of China. The company aspires to operate over 3,500 robotaxis in more than 20 cities globally by the end of 2026, an increase from a fleet of 1,975 vehicles as of June. Last month, Kazakhstan disclosed plans to launch autonomous taxi services in 2027, with initial trials slated for Astana and two additional cities. The country has also implemented regulations allowing autonomous vehicles to be tested on designated public roads.
Astana’s severe winter conditions may serve as an advantageous testing environment for robotaxis. With a population of approximately 1.7 million, the city endures extended periods of snow and ice, presenting challenges for autonomous driving systems. “Launching here will provide an important opportunity to evaluate autonomous driving technology in challenging winter conditions,” stated inDrive founder and CEO Arsen Tomsky. “Success in Astana could yield valuable insights for extending autonomous mobility to other regions facing similar obstacles.”
Kazakhstan is not the sole market where inDrive is investigating the deployment of robotaxis. In December, the company entered into a separate agreement with Saudi Arabia’s AI Driver to explore the introduction of autonomous vehicles powered by the Chinese self-driving firm WeRide, beginning in Riyadh. The companies had aimed for a pilot project in the first half of 2026, although it remains uncertain whether testing has commenced.
“We are also assessing several other markets for future deployments,” Misnik noted. “One of the primary requirements for a successful launch, in our view, is a favorable and collaborative regulatory environment to facilitate safe and sustainable testing on the roads.” inDrive operates in over 1,200 cities across 47 countries and has broadened its scope beyond ride-hailing to include delivery, intercity transportation, and financial services.
