Ride-hailing company inDrive is teaming up with Chinese autonomous driving firm Pony.ai and Nvidia to launch robotaxi tests in Kazakhstan starting in the first half of 2027. The collaboration, announced on Friday, aims to bring Pony.ai’s Gen-7 robotaxis to inDrive’s platform, with Nvidia providing AI technology, including its Hyperion platform and Halos safety system.
The tests will begin in Astana, Kazakhstan’s capital, and will initially involve a safety operator before transitioning to fully driverless rides. inDrive, known for its fare-negotiation model, plans to leverage its existing platform to offer autonomous ride-hailing services, competing with rivals like Uber, which is also expanding into robotaxis.
Nvidia’s involvement highlights the cost-saving potential of its Hyperion platform, which provides a ready-made foundation of sensors and computing technology. This is particularly relevant in emerging markets like Kazakhstan, where affordable ride-hailing services are already prevalent. The announcement coincides with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s first visit to Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan’s harsh winter conditions in Astana, with months of snow and ice, present a unique testing ground for autonomous driving technology. Success in these challenging conditions could pave the way for expanding autonomous mobility to other locations facing similar weather challenges. inDrive is also exploring robotaxi deployments in other markets, including Saudi Arabia, where it has partnered with AI Driver and WeRide.