Pony AI Expands Middle East Presence with Qatar Robotaxi Partnership

Why Is Pony AI Stock Surging Friday? - Pony AI (NASDAQ:PONY)

Pony AI PONY shares advanced on Friday after the autonomous driving startup announced a strategic partnership with Mowasalat, Qatar's state-owned transport provider, to deploy self-driving vehicles across the Gulf nation. The agreement expands Pony AI's footprint in the Middle East, following earlier operations in Dubai, and supports its broader goal of achieving "autonomous mobility everywhere." The company has already begun testing robotaxis in Doha with safety operators onboard. The trials are designed to fine-tune Pony AI's systems for Qatar's infrastructure, climate, and traffic conditions. Also Read: Pony AI's Robotaxi Expansion Accelerates Multi-Year Growth Trajectory, CEO Says Mowasalat, owned by the Qatar Investment Authority and overseen by the Ministry of Transport, operates the country's largest transport fleet and plays a central role in advancing the government's National Vision 2030 strategy. Its partnership with Pony AI underscores Qatar's ambition to integrate cutting-edge mobility solutions into its infrastructure plans. Despite Friday's gain, Pony AI shares remain down more than 5% this year. Still, investor sentiment has strengthened as the company accelerates its fleet expansion in China's biggest cities while cutting production costs. In the second quarter, Pony AI reported a 158% year-over-year surge in robotaxi revenue, driven by its seventh-generation vehicles, which are 70% cheaper to manufacture and significantly more cost-efficient to operate. Chief Executive James Peng said the company expects to have 1,000 vehicles on the road by year-end, a milestone he believes will secure unit-level profitability. Institutional investors have taken notice. ARK Invest, led by Cathie Wood, disclosed a $12.9 million stake in Pony AI this month, the fund's first direct investment in a Chinese Level 4 autonomous driving firm. The company also drew 14 global investors during the second quarter, including Baillie Gifford and Nikko Asset Management. Analysts remain optimistic about the long-term trajectory. Goldman Sachs recently reiterated a Buy rating and issued a $24.50 price forecast, implying more than 50% upside from mid-August levels. UBS has projected that China's robotaxi market could reach $183 billion by the late 2030s, with nearly $400 billion in additional opportunities internationally outside the U.S. Pony AI appears well-positioned to capture a meaningful share, thanks to exclusive permits to operate fully driverless services in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, along with regulatory approval to collect fares in parts of Shanghai. Price Action: At last check Friday, PONY shares were trading higher by 3.96% to $14.16. Read Next: Intel Warns Of Potential Backlash After Securing $5.7 Billion US Bailout Photo by Wirestock Creators via Shutterstock PONYPony AI Inc$14.083.38%Stock Score Locked: Edge Members Only Benzinga Rankings give you vital metrics on any stock - anytime. Unlock RankingsEdge RankingsMomentumN/AGrowthN/AQualityN/AValue8.68Price TrendShortMediumLongOverviewMarket News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

Pony AI and Mowasalat deploy robotaxi on public roads in Doha, Qatar

Pony AI Inc is a holding company principally engaged in the commercialization of autonomous vehicles. The Company mainly operates three businesses. The robotaxi services business is engaged in the operation of fully driverless vehicles. The robotruck services business is engaged in the development of robotrucks with safety drivers to fulfill its freight orders within its existing nationwide logistics network. The licensing and applications business is engaged in offering personally owned vehicles (POV) intelligent driving solutions and other value-added technological services. The Company conducts its business in the domestic and overseas markets.

PONY AI Inc. and Mowasalat Deploy Robotaxi on Public Roads in Doha, Qatar

DOHA, Qatar, Sept. 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pony AI Inc. ("Pony.ai" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: PONY), a global leader in achieving large-scale commercialization of autonomous mobility, today announced a partnership with Mowasalat ("Karwa"), Qatar's largest transportation service provider, together deploying autonomous vehicles on the country's roads. This collaboration represents another significant step in Pony.ai's vision of "autonomous mobility everywhere" and further expands its presence in the Middle East, now covering Dubai, Qatar, and other key markets. Under this partnership, Pony.ai's Robotaxis have recently begun testing on public roads in Doha, the capital of Qatar. This initial phase, conducted with safety operators onboard, marks an important milestone in localizing autonomous driving technology for Qatar's unique driving environment. The trials are focused on adapting Pony.ai's autonomous driving stacks to the nation's weather, road infrastructure, and traffic conditions. Mowasalat, which is fully owned by the Qatar Investment Authority and overseen by the Ministry of Transport, operates the nation's largest ground transportation fleet, including taxis, buses, limousines, and corporate transport services. Its strong local ties and extensive infrastructure make it the ideal partner for Pony.ai to deploy autonomous mobility solutions in Qatar. This collaboration aligns directly with Qatar National Vision 2030's goal of transforming the country into an advanced society through sustainable development. "This deployment with Pony.ai marks a significant milestone in our journey towards realizing Qatar's National Vision 2030," said Eng. Ahmed Hassan Al-Obaidly, CEO of Mowasalat. "Building on our success in managing world-class transport operations during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, we are now integrating advanced autonomous driving technologies into our transportation framework. This not only enhances the efficiency and safety of our services but also contributes to the sustainable development of Qatar's infrastructure. This initiative aligns perfectly with our strategic goals to innovate and provide cutting-edge solutions for the people of Qatar." "This partnership marks a major milestone in expanding our global footprint by creating ecosystem synergies through collaboration with local partners," said Dr. James Peng, Chairman and CEO of Pony.ai. "Qatar presents a unique environment for autonomous driving deployment, and Mowasalat's deep local knowledge makes it an ideal partner. Together, we aim to build a resilient and scalable autonomous driving solution that supports sustainable mobility across the region." About Pony AI Inc. Pony AI Inc. is a global leader in achieving large-scale commercialization of autonomous mobility. Leveraging its vehicle-agnostic Virtual Driver technology, a full-stack autonomous driving technology that seamlessly integrates Pony.ai's proprietary software, hardware, and services, Pony.ai is developing a commercially viable and sustainable business model that enables the mass production and deployment of vehicles across transportation use cases. Founded in 2016, Pony.ai has expanded its presence across China, Europe, East Asia, the Middle East and other regions, ensuring widespread accessibility to its advanced technology. For more information, please visit: https://ir.pony.ai. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "aims," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "likely to," and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Pony.ai's beliefs, plans, and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Pony.ai's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Pony.ai does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.