Business Desk 
May 08, 2025
In a bid to establish a strong foothold for its driverless vehicles in another major market, Uber is planning to expand its autonomous ride-hailing service to the Middle East later this year after forming a new partnership with Chinese self-driving firm Pony AI.
The Middle Eastern expansion indicates Uber's commitment to scaling its robotaxi operations to stay competitive in the ever-evolving sphere of autonomous vehicles (AVs).
As part of the collaboration, Pony AI’s autonomous vehicles will initially operate with safety drivers onboard before transitioning into a fully driverless commercial ride-hailing service, according to Reuters.
Uber's collaborations with autonomous transportation firms
The partnership happens to be one of several other AV deals recently announced by Uber, including collaborations with May Mobility and China’s Momenta, as well as an extended agreement with WeRide covering 15 cities in the Middle East and Europe.
A nod to its persistently widening presence, the transportation giant also broadened its alliance with Waymo, Google’s AV subsidiary, last year.
It must be highlighted that Pony AI is backed by Toyota and is currently operational in several major Chinese cities, aiming to expand globally.
As a result of a fresh deal, the company's shares rose 13% in premarket trading.
