"The user's answer? 'The environment is great. It's clean. I use it as my napping place!' For Peng, the regular napper is a sign of how quickly riders are adapting their behavior as self-driving cars start to take over China's-and the world's-streets."
"'Without a driver in the loop, we have to find creative ways to do a lot of things,' Peng says. If a passenger leaves a door open-a common problem for robotaxis-the car might chirp at a passerby in a 'cute voice,' in Peng's words, asking them to close it."
"Pony AI has 1,200 taxis on the road, with plans to hit 3,000 by the end of the year-on track with Waymo. As of early 2026, over 50 Chinese cities allow self-driving cars on public roads in a testing capacity."
Pony AI, a Chinese robotaxi startup, is witnessing significant changes in user behavior as self-driving cars become more prevalent. One user consistently books rides post-lunch for napping, illustrating this shift. The company operates 1,200 taxis and plans to expand to 3,000. Chinese robotaxis are also expanding internationally, with operations in the UAE, Qatar, and Singapore. As of early 2026, over 50 Chinese cities permit self-driving cars on public roads, with 10 allowing commercial operations, paralleling developments in the U.S.
Read at Fortune
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