inDrive Eyes Robotaxis Without Building Own Tech

Ride-hailing platform inDrive is exploring the robotaxi sector by collaborating with autonomous driving firm Pony.ai and chipmaker Nvidia. Announced on October 23, this partnership aims to test driverless rides in Kazakhstan, with initial operations planned for the capital city, Astana, pending government agreements.

Pony.ai will supply its Level 4 autonomous Gen-7 robotaxis, while Nvidia will provide its Hyperion computing platform and Halos safety system. inDrive will manage the service through its existing app, signifying a shift towards operating as a platform connecting riders with third-party autonomous vehicles.

Kazakhstan was selected due to its recent establishment of a legal framework for driverless transport. Furthermore, Astana's harsh winter climate presents a unique opportunity to evaluate the technology's performance in challenging conditions, testing its resilience against snow and ice.

This initiative is currently in an evaluation phase, focusing on technical, operational, and commercial viability, alongside necessary regulatory approvals. The companies will later consider expanding to other Kazakh cities and international markets where inDrive operates.

This move reflects a wider industry trend where ride-hailing companies partner with technology firms to integrate autonomous vehicles into their fleets, without developing the core self-driving systems themselves. Uber has pursued a similar strategy, partnering with numerous AV companies.