inDrive Partners with Pony.ai and Nvidia for Robotaxi Tests in Kazakhstan

In what could be a significant step towards the adoption of autonomous ride-hailing services, ride-hailing company inDrive has announced plans to begin testing robotaxis in Kazakhstan. The tests are set to start in 2027, initially involving a safety operator before moving on to fully driverless rides.

inDrive is working with Chinese autonomous driving firm Pony.ai and Nvidia to bring their robotaxi technology to the region. Under the proposed plan, Pony.ai would provide its Gen-7 robotaxis, which inDrive would offer through its ride-hailing app and operate in Kazakhstan. Nvidia would supply the AI technology, including its Hyperion platform and Halos safety system.

The testing will take place in Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan, with a population of around 1.7 million people. The harsh winters in Astana could make it an ideal location for evaluating autonomous driving systems under challenging conditions. InDrive’s CTO Yuri Misnik told TechCrunch that launching robotaxis here would provide valuable insights for expanding autonomous mobility to other locations facing similar challenges.

Nvidia’s Hyperion platform is designed to lower the cost of developing robotaxis by providing a ready-made foundation of sensors and computing technology. This could be particularly beneficial in emerging markets, where ride-hailing services are already relatively affordable and autonomous services need to compete on cost. Nvidia’s vice president of automotive Ali Kani noted that this approach would allow companies to save money by not having to build and integrate everything themselves.

The partnership between inDrive, Pony.ai, and Nvidia is part of a growing trend towards the adoption of robotaxis globally. Ride-hailing companies such as Uber are also exploring autonomous ride-hailing services, with plans to test Pony.ai’s robotaxis in London. InDrive operates in over 1,200 cities across 47 countries and has expanded its business beyond ride-hailing into delivery, intercity transportation, and financial services.

In addition to Kazakhstan, inDrive is also looking at other markets for future deployments of autonomous vehicles. The company signed a separate agreement with Saudi Arabia’s AI Driver to explore deploying autonomous vehicles powered by Chinese self-driving firm WeRide, starting with Riyadh. InDrive has targeted a pilot in the first half of 2026, although it remains unclear whether testing has begun.

The regulatory environment is also seen as crucial for successful launch and safe testing on roads. Misnik emphasized that one of the main requisites for launching robotaxis successfully is a favorable and collaborative regulatory environment to facilitate safe and sustainable testing. Kazakhstan has introduced rules for autonomous vehicles to be tested on certain public roads, which could provide an opportunity for inDrive to evaluate its technology.

The announcement coincides with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s first visit to Kazakhstan on Friday. The partnership between inDrive, Pony.ai, and Nvidia is seen as a significant step towards the adoption of robotaxis globally, particularly in emerging markets where ride-hailing services are already relatively affordable.