Pony.ai Expands Into Singapore, to Deploy Autonomous Vehicles in Cooperation with ComfortDelGro

Rhea-AI Summary

Pony.ai (NYSE:PONY) has announced its expansion into Singapore through a partnership with ComfortDelGro, Singapore's largest transportation service provider. The companies will deploy autonomous vehicles in the Punggol area with fixed routes, pending regulatory approval.

The initiative builds on their existing partnership, which began with an MoU in July 2024 and includes a successful pilot program in Guangzhou launched in March 2025. Pony.ai currently operates fully driverless Robotaxi services across four tier-1 Chinese cities, covering over 2,000 square kilometers with more than 50 million kilometers of autonomous driving mileage globally. The company reported a 136% year-over-year increase in registered users during Q2, maintaining a user satisfaction rate above 4.8/5.

Positive

• None.

Negative

• Pending regulatory approval required before service launch in Singapore
• Initial deployment limited to fixed routes in Punggol area only

Insights

Autonomous Mobility Specialist

Pony.ai's Singapore expansion with ComfortDelGro strengthens its global position in the competitive autonomous vehicle market.

Pony.ai's strategic entry into Singapore represents a significant international expansion of its autonomous vehicle operations. The partnership with ComfortDelGro—Singapore's largest transportation provider—creates powerful synergies: Pony.ai contributes advanced self-driving technology while ComfortDelGro brings local market expertise and operational infrastructure.

This move is particularly well-timed as it aligns with Singapore's government-backed initiative to deploy autonomous vehicles in public housing estates by year-end, starting with the Punggol district. Singapore faces persistent driver shortages during off-peak hours, creating a genuine market need that autonomous vehicles can address.

The collaboration builds on established foundations, following their July 2024 MoU and successful Guangzhou pilot launched in March 2025. This methodical expansion pattern—testing in controlled environments before scaling—reflects a mature business strategy.

Pony.ai brings impressive operational credentials to this venture, with fully driverless commercial services already running in China's four tier-1 cities across 2,000+ square kilometers, 50+ million kilometers of autonomous driving experience globally, and a 136% year-over-year increase in registered users last quarter while maintaining 4.8/5 satisfaction ratings.

Beyond Singapore, Pony.ai's recent partnerships in Qatar and Dubai, plus testing operations in Luxembourg and South Korea, demonstrate aggressive global expansion. The company is strategically positioning Singapore as a springboard into the broader Southeast Asian market, significantly expanding its addressable market.

Transportation Industry Analyst

This Singapore expansion represents a strategic milestone in Pony.ai's commercialization journey. The company is executing a deliberate market entry strategy by partnering with ComfortDelGro, which controls approximately 60% of Singapore's taxi fleet. This provides immediate infrastructure advantages and regulatory navigation capabilities essential for success.

The timing is opportune as Singapore's Ministry of Transport has explicitly announced plans to integrate autonomous vehicles into its public transport network, creating a government-supported market opportunity. The initial focus on fixed routes in Punggol creates a controlled environment to demonstrate safety and reliability before wider deployment.

From a competitive landscape perspective, this move strengthens Pony.ai's position against rivals like Waymo and Cruise by establishing presence in a technologically advanced Asian market outside of China. Singapore offers a stable regulatory environment, advanced infrastructure, and serves as a prestigious reference market for other Asian countries.

The focus on addressing driver shortages during off-peak hours targets a specific market inefficiency where autonomous technology can deliver immediate economic benefits. This pragmatic approach to deploying autonomous vehicles as a supplement to (rather than replacement for) existing transportation demonstrates market sensitivity and increases adoption likelihood.

Pony.ai's expansion sequence—from China to Middle East and now Southeast Asia—suggests a deliberate strategy targeting markets with centralized decision-making structures where government partnerships can accelerate commercial deployment. The company appears to be prioritizing markets where regulatory pathways to commercialization are clearer, potentially giving it advantage over competitors focused primarily on more complex regulatory environments.

SINGAPORE, Sept. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Pony.ai, a global leader in autonomous driving technology, today announced its entry into the Singapore market, joining hands with its partner ComfortDelGro, the largest local transportation service provider, to deploy autonomous vehicles and facilitate daily commuting for residents.

The two companies plan to introduce autonomous mobility services initially in the Punggol area with fixed routes. They will begin services in the coming months after obtaining regulatory approval.

The program aligns with Singapore's ambitious plan to introduce autonomous mobility solutions to supplement existing transportation infrastructure—such as taxis, private hailing cars, and subways—while also providing services during off-peak hours, which have been consistently constrained by driver shortages.

Pony.ai and ComfortDelGro have built a strong collaborative foundation prior to this Singapore initiative. The partnership began when the two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in July 2024, establishing a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating the large-scale commercial deployment of autonomous vehicles. It was followed by a pilot program in Guangzhou, which was launched in March 2025 and served as a valuable precursor for their expanded efforts in Singapore.

In June 2025, Singapore's Ministry of Transport (MOT) announced a plan to deploy autonomous vehicles (AVs) in public housing estates by the end of the year, integrating them into the national public transport network. The initial rollout will focus on Punggol district. This initiative is part of a broader governmental effort to address driver shortages while enhancing connectivity across public transportation.

Pony.ai Founder and CEO Dr. James Peng said: "We are thrilled to introduce Pony.ai's advanced autonomous driving technology to Singapore. By delivering safe, comfortable, and efficient autonomous mobility services, we are committed to enhancing local residents' daily commutes and advancing the nation's smart mobility vision."

Mr. Cheng Siak Kian, Managing Director and Group CEO, ComfortDelGro said: "We are delighted to expand our partnership with Pony.ai to bring safe, innovative and reliable autonomous mobility services to communities in Singapore. Our successful collaboration in Guangzhou has provided a strong foundation for this next phase, combining Pony.ai's proven technology with our operational expertise and infrastructure capabilities. This partnership supports our vision for sustainable and intelligent mobility solutions that will benefit our communities."

Pony.ai currently operates fully driverless commercial Robotaxi services in all four tier-1 cities in China—Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. These services cover an area of over 2,000 square kilometers. The company has accumulated over 50 million kilometers of autonomous driving mileage globally, demonstrating solid safety records and user satisfaction. Registered users on its ride-hailing platform surged 136% year-over-year in the second quarter. Even with a larger user base, its user satisfaction rate remains well above 4.8 out of 5.

Globally, Pony.ai has been steadily expanding its footprint. The most recent development came two weeks ago when it announced its partnership with Qatar's premier transportation service provider Mowasalat "Karwa" to bring autonomous vehicles to the country's roads. This further strengthened Pony.ai's presence in the Middle East, building upon the company's partnership with Dubai's RTA, as well as its cooperation with Uber in the region. Furthermore, Pony.ai is also conducting on-road testing in Luxembourg with local partner Emile Weber, and 24/7 testing in Seoul's Gangnam district.

"Singapore has world-class transportation infrastructure, and its government is very supportive in developing autonomous mobility to help build a green and sustainable future. We see great potential in the local market as well as the broader Southeast Asian markets. Combining our technology with ComfortDelGro's extensive local expertise, we hope to use Singapore as a launchpad to explore more opportunities in the region," said Peng.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ponyai-expands-into-singapore-to-deploy-autonomous-vehicles-in-cooperation-with-comfortdelgro-302562063.html

SOURCE Pony.ai

FAQ

When will Pony.ai launch its autonomous vehicle service in Singapore?

Pony.ai will begin services in the Punggol area in the coming months, following regulatory approval.

What is the partnership between Pony.ai and ComfortDelGro?

The partnership, established through an MoU in July 2024, aims to deploy autonomous vehicles in Singapore, building on their successful pilot program in Guangzhou launched in March 2025.

How many kilometers has Pony.ai's autonomous driving system accumulated globally?

Pony.ai has accumulated over 50 million kilometers of autonomous driving mileage globally with solid safety records.

What is Pony.ai's current operational presence in China?

Pony.ai operates fully driverless commercial Robotaxi services in four tier-1 Chinese cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen), covering over 2,000 square kilometers.

How has Pony.ai's user base grown recently?

Pony.ai's registered users on its ride-hailing platform increased by 136% year-over-year in the second quarter, maintaining a satisfaction rate above 4.8 out of 5.