Uber rival inDrive eyes 2027 robotaxi tests in Central Asia with Pony AI and Nvidia

Key points

• Ride-hailing company inDrive plans to begin testing robotaxis in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, in the first half of 2027. The company has signed a memorandum of understanding with Chinese autonomous driving firm Pony.ai and chipmaker Nvidia.
• Tests will initially include a safety operator, with fully driverless rides as the eventual goal. Pony.ai would supply its robotaxis, while Nvidia would provide its AI technology.
• The move follows similar robotaxi plans by rival Uber, which is testing in London and other markets.