Pony.ai Highlights Doha Robotaxi Progress, Shows Driverless Gen-7 Vehicles at Qatar Forum
Pony.ai says its fare-charging Doha robotaxi service is gaining ground, with Qatar's transport ministry praising safety and Pony.ai showing Gen-7 vehicles running without safety operators.
- Exceeds 4,000 vehicles
- September 7-9, 2026
- December 2025
What Happened
At the second Autonomous e-Mobility Forum (AEMOB Forum), held September 7-9, 2026, at the Qatar National Convention Centre, Pony AI Inc. (NASDAQ: PONY; HKEX: 2026) and its local partner Mowasalat (Karwa), Qatar's national mobility service provider, highlighted progress on their commercial Robotaxi service in Doha. The service charges fares through the Karwa app and makes Doha one of Pony.ai's key commercial operations outside China. The forum, hosted by Qatar's Ministry of Transport, brought together government officials, policymakers and industry leaders, and Pony.ai demonstrated Gen-7 Robotaxis operating without an onboard safety operator.
Initial public-road testing began in Doha.
A commercial pilot service launched through the Karwa app with trained safety operators onboard.
Pony.ai shared program progress and showed Gen-7 Robotaxis operating without a safety operator at the AEMOB Forum.
- Operates across Old Doha and West Bay commercial districts, tourist attractions and city landmarks
- Stops include Doha Corniche, National Museum of Qatar, Museum of Islamic Art and Old Doha Port
- Connects Hamad International Airport with the city
- Supports daily commutes, airport transfers, sightseeing and leisure trips
Qatar's Ministry of Transport said in a July public update that the commercial pilot had delivered high passenger satisfaction and safety performance above initial targets. It said the program's operating and technical systems were ready for broader adoption of autonomous services. A potential next phase would aim to advance toward fully driverless operation in coordination with the relevant authorities.
“Doha demonstrates how Robotaxis can be integrated into a modern urban transportation system, offering residents and visitors a safe, comfortable and consistent way to travel while adding capacity to the broader network. Together with Mowasalat, we have built a strong operational foundation and look forward to advancing this work in support of a smarter, more sustainable transportation system in Qatar.”
The Doha program operates under the supervision of Qatar's Ministry of Transport and supports the country's Autonomous Vehicles Strategy and Qatar National Vision 2030. Pony.ai says Doha is part of its international expansion, the second engine of growth alongside China. Through its joint deployment model, the company combines technology and commercialization experience developed in China with partners' fleet resources, local operating capabilities and rider access. Planned and potential overseas deployments exceed 4,000 vehicles.
Previously from Pony.ai Inc.
In August 2026, Uber launched Europe's first autonomous rides in Zagreb via Pony.ai and Verne. Pony.ai and Uber also said they would deploy more than 2,000 robotaxis in additional European cities and the Middle East. Pony.ai reported Q2 Robotaxi revenue up 691.2% year over year, with robotaxi fares about one-third of total revenue.
- Uber launches first autonomous rides in Europe via Pony.ai and Verne in Zagreb
- Pony.ai and Uber Expand Partnership to Deploy Over 2,000 Robotaxis in Europe
- Pony.ai Robotaxi Revenue Up 691.2% YoY, Now One-Third of Total Revenue
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of Pony.ai Inc.'s official releases.
Why this matters
Doha is one of Pony.ai's key commercial operations outside China, delivered with partner Mowasalat (Karwa). Qatar's Ministry of Transport says the pilot exceeded safety targets and is ready for broader autonomous adoption. Residents and visitors can already use the Karwa app for commutes, airport transfers and sightseeing in Doha.
Terms in This Story
- Robotaxi
- An autonomous vehicle that offers paid rides to passengers, usually booked through an app, without a human driver.
- Safety operator
- A trained person seated in an autonomous vehicle who can monitor the ride and take control if needed.
- Driverless operation
- Running an autonomous vehicle without a safety operator or human driver on board.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.