Yimeng Zhang, VP of engineering at Pony.AI (left), with Roly Heinisch and Emile Weber, managing partners of Emile Weber, at the announcement of the agreement between the two companies at the end of October 2024. Photo: Laurent Blum/Emile Weber

Yimeng Zhang, VP of engineering at Pony.AI (left), with Roly Heinisch and Emile Weber, managing partners of Emile Weber, at the announcement of the agreement between the two companies at the end of October 2024. Photo: Laurent Blum/Emile Weber

The mobility and public works ministry has issued the first test authorisation for three robotaxis from Pony.AI in partnership with Emile Weber. A first appearance of these level-4 (out of 5) autonomous cars in Luxembourg is imminent.

Luxembourg is moving forward without a driver. Well… its cars are, anyway. On 3 April 2025, Pony.AI announced that it had obtained the first test licence for level-4 autonomous vehicles--level 5 is the highest--placing the country at the heart of a revolution already underway in China, the United States and South Korea.

“The issue of a test permit marks an important and decisive step for the future of mobility,” commented  (DP), mobility and public works minister. “Autonomous driving is a major innovation that can transform our daily lives. The government is pleased to support companies like Pony.AI in the development of their technologies and is committed to supporting initiatives that make mobility safer and more efficient.”

“Pony.AI is honoured to be among the first companies to be granted a permit to test autonomous vehicles in Luxembourg,” said Pony.AI founder and CEO James Peng. “Establishing our European hub in Luxembourg reinforces our commitment to making it a leading destination for autonomous mobility in Europe. And this commitment also strengthens our partnership with Emile Weber, one of the region's most respected carriers."

The first cars are expected to be electric Hyundai Kona. “From 28 March 2025, and for a period of one year, Pony.AI will be authorised to operate within the boundaries of the municipality of Lenningen,” said the ministry in a press release. “The three vehicles involved in the project will be required to display a ‘scientific trial’ sign when on public streets. They will also have to be manned by people who have been duly trained to supervise the trials.”

It was in October 2024 that the company with Emile Weber.

250 robotaxis already in service

Born in 2016, Pony.AI already operates a fleet of 250 robotaxis that have covered 40m kilometres to date. The company is licensed in China’s four biggest cities (Beijing, Guanghzou, Shanghai, Shenzen) and has started offering the service, which will be tested in Luxembourg, in three of those four (Shanghai is the exception). They’re mainly Toyotas and Hycans. Recently, it also announced plans to provide driverless transport services (employees only for now) at Hong Kong International Airport, one of the busiest airports in the world.

Pony.AI went public on 27 November 2024 on the Nasdaq: it raised around $260m by selling 20m shares at $13 each. The IPO valued Pony.AI at around $4.55bn, down from $8.5bn in 2022. On the financial front, Pony.AI  its unaudited fourth quarter and full year 2024 results in March 2025. The company reported record revenues of $75.0m for the year, up 4.3% on 2023.

In January 2025, it became the first company in China to receive approval for tests of autonomous truck platoons crossing several provinces. In March 2025, Pony.AI announced plans to deploy more than 1,000 robotaxis this year and is aiming for a fleet of more than 10,000 vehicles within three years, with the goal of reaching profitability by 2029.

This article in French.

Related articles