inDrive to test Pony.ai robotaxis in Kazakhstan in 2027 with Nvidia tech

Ride-hailing company inDrive announced plans to test Pony.ai’s robotaxis in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, beginning in the first half of 2027. The pilot will integrate Pony.ai’s Gen-7 robotaxis into inDrive’s ride-hailing app, with Nvidia providing the underlying AI technology through its Hyperion platform and Halos safety system. The initial phase will include a safety operator, with the goal of transitioning to fully driverless operations.

Nvidia’s involvement includes its Hyperion platform, which is designed to reduce the cost and complexity of developing robotaxis by offering a pre-built foundation of sensors and computing technology. The company also contributes its Alpamayo model and synthetic data generation tools to support testing across diverse driving scenarios. According to Nvidia, these tools are particularly relevant for emerging markets where cost competitiveness is critical.

The partnership aligns with Kazakhstan’s broader push to launch autonomous taxi services in 2027, with initial trials planned in Astana and two other cities. Kazakhstan has also introduced rules allowing autonomous vehicle testing on specific public roads, providing a regulatory framework for the pilot.

Astana’s winter conditions—characterized by months of snow and ice—will serve as a challenging testing ground for the robotaxis. inDrive founder and CEO Arsen Tomsky noted that success in Astana could yield insights for expanding autonomous mobility to other regions with similar climates.

inDrive operates in over 1,200 cities across 47 countries and has expanded beyond ride-hailing into delivery, intercity transportation, and financial services. The company’s approach emphasizes partnerships to deliver affordable services, a strategy it plans to apply to its autonomous ride-hailing efforts.

Separately, inDrive has signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia’s AI Driver to explore deploying autonomous vehicles powered by Chinese self-driving firm WeRide, with a targeted pilot in Riyadh in the first half of 2026. The status of this pilot was not confirmed in the report.

The announcement coincides with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s first visit to Kazakhstan, highlighting the strategic importance of the region for autonomous vehicle development and AI infrastructure.