Shanghai has joined Beijing and several other Chinese cities in offering commercial robotaxi services. But what sets the city’s services apart is that they are operating in business areas with large populations. As part of the approvals granted for autonomous ride-hailing services in Shanghai, operators must team with traditional taxi companies to tap into their knowledge and experience. Pony.ai is among eight companies recently licensed to launch driverless commercial robotaxi services in the city. It has partnered with Jin Jiang International Holdings Co’s taxi service arm to launch a regular robotaxi service in Shanghai’s Jinqiao and Huamu areas. Operating Monday to Friday from 7:30 am to 9:30 pm, the routes cover key destinations such as the Pudong New Area government area, Lalaport shopping mall, Century Park, and the Pudong Football Stadium metro station, linking workplaces, residential areas, and recreational spots. “Since the pilot service began on August 1, the robotaxis have been running at near full capacity, operating more than 10 hours a day with rides in high demand,” said Shi Deming, Deputy General Manager of Jin Jiang’s taxi service arm. The service area was chosen to match city traffic conditions and the requirements of the pilot program, Shi said. With its high population and commercial density, the district offers a good representative environment for testing different scenarios, he added.
“Our long-term goal extends beyond this pilot phase; we are preparing for large-scale commercial deployment, aiming to drive the transformation and upgrading of traditional taxi operations through new quality productive forces,” Shi said. Huang Jun, Vice President of Pony.ai, said: “The Jinqiao and Huamu areas were chosen as the starting point for driverless taxi services because they combine office buildings, upscale residences, and retail facilities, forming a complete urban community with diverse use scenarios.” According to Huang, the selected area also has heavy foot traffic and strong demand for transportation, making it an ideal place to test the service in real-world conditions. “Looking ahead, we plan to gradually expand the network across Pudong, increase the size of the autonomous fleet, and add more pickup points so more residents can experience robotaxi travel,” he said.
Shanghai issued its first eight demonstration operation permits for intelligent connected vehicles on July 26 during the 2025 World AI Conference & High-level Meeting on Global AI Governance. Apart from Pony.ai and Jin Jiang taxi, the recipients included SAIC AI Lab, Utopilot, Baidu's autonomous ride-hailing platform Apollo Go, Shanghai Qiangsheng Holding Co, and Dazhong Transportation Group Co. On August 15, Qiangsheng Taxi and SAIC AI Lab launched their joint intelligent connected vehicle service in the Lingang Special Area, now operating as a commercial service. The service has 58 designated pickup and drop-off points across the Lingang Special Area, and reaches key locations such as tourist attractions, commercial centers, residential neighborhoods, and public transit hubs. It operates between the peak travel periods of 8 am and 8 pm.
On the same day, Dazhong Transportation Group and Apollo Go jointly launched a driverless vehicle pilot test in the Jinqiao area. Ge Lei, General Manager of Marketing with Dazhong’s taxi arm, said the fleet includes five fifth-generation Apollo Go vehicles operating without in-vehicle safety operators. The service runs on weekdays from 9 am to 6 pm, covering an area of about 25 square kilometers, with plans to expand to nearby areas, Ge said. Rides can be booked via the Apollo Go app’s mini-program, or through Dazhong’s app. Unlike regular ride-hailing services, passengers must board and alight at designated stops. About 70 such stations are currently in operation in Jinqiao, with more to be added as the service grows. In April 2023, Dazhong and Apollo Go were given one of Shanghai’s first permits for intelligent connected taxis in Jiading district, and conducted test rides with safety drivers onboard. “The experience gained there laid the groundwork for this fully driverless trial in Jinqiao,” Ge said. On August 20, IM Motors and SAIC AI Lab jointly launched a driverless robotaxi service linking Shanghai Disney Resort and Shanghai Pudong International Airport. The service also offers short-distance connections between popular spots within the Shanghai International Resort area.
Shanghai requires autonomous driving companies to partner with traditional taxi operators to run services jointly. “This model draws on the strengths of both sides and offers opportunities for conventional taxi operators to make a transition by minimizing risks,” Ge said. While tech firms focus on self-driving systems, taxi companies bring operational experience, from handling unexpected traffic incidents to ensuring service quality. They also manage tasks such as vehicle cleaning, maintenance, inspections, and charging of new energy vehicles, all crucial for the passenger experience, Ge said. “As a familiar brand, Dazhong also provides greater public recognition and trust. We formed a strategic partnership with Baidu in October 2022 and secured one of Shanghai’s first demonstration permits in April 2023,” he said. Fang Yinliang, Partner with consultancy McKinsey, said: “Shanghai’s model may be the closest yet to a truly market-ready and commercialized approach for robotaxis,” the China Daily reports.
