Uber to test Pony.ai’s Gen-7 robotaxis in London as companies push ahead with autonomous trials

Uber said it will work with, a Chinese autonomous-driving company, to begin testing ’s Gen-7 robotaxis in London in the coming weeks. The announcement positions London as the next step in ’s effort to validate robotaxi technology outside its home market and within a major global rides environment where Uber already operates.

’s Gen-7 robotaxis are the companies’ shared focus for the trial. “Gen-7” refers to ’s seventh-generation robotaxi platform, an evolution intended to improve key autonomous-driving capabilities such as perception and driving behavior, though the specific technical changes were not detailed in the announcement described by the reporting.

The companies framed the effort as a test rather than a public rollout. That distinction matters because autonomous vehicle pilots typically involve staged activities such as limited-area operations, safety monitoring, and adjustments to vehicle behavior and remote-support processes before any broader service is contemplated.

The report did not specify the scale of the London testing, the number of vehicles involved, the operating geography within London, or the planned duration of the pilot. It also did not disclose whether the robotaxis will be fully driverless throughout operations or whether a remote or on-site safety support model will be used.

For Uber, robotaxi partnerships are part of a broader strategy to explore autonomy as a potential future mobility option alongside its core app-based marketplace. For, London offers a dense, regulated, and internationally visible testing ground that can help demonstrate whether its system can operate reliably in complex urban traffic conditions.

Autonomous vehicle trials in major cities also tend to be shaped by local regulatory requirements and safety frameworks. Even when companies announce a start date for testing, the details of permissions, operational constraints, and reporting are often clarified separately and can evolve as the pilot begins.

A key uncertainty remains what success metrics the companies will use for this London phase, and what outcomes could determine next steps. The announcement described by the reporting did not provide information on testing milestones, performance targets, or whether either company plans to expand beyond the initial trial footprint.

Investors and industry watchers will likely focus on what the companies say as testing commences, including any updates on operational scope, safety procedures, and whether the trial produces evidence that could support longer deployments or additional city partnerships.