inDrive teams with Pony.ai and Nvidia to pilot robotaxis in Kazakhstan’s capital
Ride‑hailing pioneer inDrive has signed a memorandum of understanding with Chinese autonomous‑driving firm Pony.ai and chip‑maker Nvidia to launch robotaxi trials in Astana, Kazakhstan, slated for the first half of 2027. The three‑way collaboration blends Pony.ai’s Gen‑7 self‑driving pods, Nvidia’s Hyperion AI platform and safety suite, and inDrive’s fare‑negotiation app to test a capital‑light autonomous service in a market that is still price‑sensitive.
The partnership and its technology
The agreement outlines a clear division of labor:
- Pony.ai will supply its Gen‑7 robotaxi hardware, already deployed in several Chinese cities.
- Nvidia will provide the Hyperion computing stack, the Halos safety system, and synthetic‑data tools such as Alpamayo to accelerate validation.
- inDrive will integrate the service into its existing app, allowing passengers to hail autonomous rides alongside traditional cars.
"Our approach is capital‑light by design," CTO Yuri Misnik told TechCrunch. "We work with a range of partners in different markets, combining their expertise with ours to deliver a better customer experience."
Why Kazakhstan matters
Astana’s harsh winters and icy roads present a rigorous proving ground for autonomous perception and control. With a population of roughly 1.7 million, the city offers a dense enough rider base while still being under‑served by premium mobility options. The Kazakh government has already drafted regulations for public‑road autonomous testing, aiming for a full rollout of robotaxi services by 2027.
- Snow and ice stress sensor fusion and decision‑making algorithms.
- Lower operating costs are essential; Nvidia claims Hyperion can cut development spend by up to 30 %.
- Success here could serve as a template for other emerging‑market pilots.
Competitive landscape
inDrive’s move follows a wave of global players eyeing non‑U.S. markets:
- Uber is trial