Ride-hailing firm inDrive plans 2027 robotaxi tests in Kazakhstan with Pony.ai and Nvidia
inDrive, Pony.ai and Nvidia signed an MOU to begin supervised robotaxi testing in Astana in the first half of 2027, targeting extreme winter conditions.
Ride-hailing company inDrive has announced a memorandum of understanding with Chinese autonomous driving firm Pony.ai and chipmaker Nvidia to begin testing robotaxis in Astana, Kazakhstan, in the first half of 2027. According to TechCrunch, initial tests will involve safety operators, with fully driverless rides as the eventual goal.
Under the proposed plan, Pony.ai would provide its Gen-7 robotaxis, which inDrive would offer through its ride-hailing app. Nvidia would supply AI technology, including its Hyperion platform and Halos safety system. inDrive CTO Yuri Misnik stated that the company follows a "capital-light" strategy, aiming to combine partners' expertise to lower costs.
The choice of Astana is partly due to its harsh winters, which serve as a useful testing ground for evaluating autonomous driving reliability in snow and ice. This move aligns with Pony.ai's global expansion, as the company aims to operate more than 3,500 robotaxis in over 20 cities worldwide by the end of 2026. Previously, Uber announced plans to test Pony.ai's robotaxis in London.