Estonian ride-hailing platform Bolt has partnered with autonomous-driving developer Pony.ai to bring Level 4 self-driving technology to its European network, building on what Pony.ai reports as more than 55 million kilometers of autonomous road driving across eight countries. Under the agreement, Pony.ai’s Level 4 system will be integrated into Bolt’s mobility ecosystem. Bolt said the partners will prioritize real-world testing, safety validation, and user experience design before launching fully driverless operations.
Highlights
- Pony.ai’s Level 4 autonomous driving technology will be integrated into Bolt’s European mobility ecosystem.
- Pony.ai reports more than 55 million kilometers of autonomous driving on open roads and partnerships across eight countries.
- The first phase covers real-world testing, safety validation, and user experience design ahead of any driverless launch.
- Early deployments will target cities in both EU member states and non-EU European countries.
How the Partnership Will Work
Pony.ai’s Level 4 driving system will form part of Bolt’s existing mobility platform. Level 4 is the SAE International designation for systems that can perform all driving tasks within a defined operating area without human intervention.
The companies plan to move in stages. The first phase centers on real-world testing, safety validation, and user experience design — the groundwork the partners describe as necessary before fully autonomous, driverless services begin. Early deployments will target cities in both EU member states and non-EU European countries.
“Autonomous vehicles will transform how people and goods move around, and Bolt is proud to partner with Pony.ai as the company scales its autonomous driving technology,” said Markus Villig, founder and CEO of Bolt. “As the only independent, European-founded ride hailing platform competing globally, Bolt is uniquely positioned to help scale autonomous vehicles responsibly and efficiently, in full alignment with Europe’s safety and data standards.”
Pony.ai’s Autonomous Driving Footprint
Guided by what it calls a vision of “autonomous mobility everywhere,” Pony.ai continues to develop and commercialize robotaxis internationally. According to the company, it has logged more than 55 million kilometers of autonomous driving on open roads and built partnerships across eight countries. That footprint forms the basis for the technology Bolt now plans to fold into its European operations.
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