inDrive, a ride-hailing company known for allowing passengers and drivers to negotiate fares, is collaborating with Chinese self-driving companies Pony.ai and Nvidia to begin testing robotaxis in Kazakhstan in 2027.
The two companies announced Friday that they have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore bringing Pony.ai’s robotaxis to inDrive’s platform. This reflects growing interest in self-driving technology beyond the United States and China.
inDrive CTO Yuri Misnik told TechCrunch that testing is expected to begin in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana in the first half of 2027. Testing will initially involve safety operators, with the ultimate goal being completely driverless operation.
Under the proposed plan, Pony.ai would provide the 7th generation robotaxis and inDrive would be offered through the ride-hailing app and would operate in Kazakhstan. Nvidia, on the other hand, provides AI technology, including its Hyperion platform and Halos safety system.
The move comes as the ride-hailing company expands its efforts in robotaxis. Earlier this month, Uber announced plans to test Pony Eye robotaxis in London and also began offering supervised self-driving services with investor-backed partner British startup Wave. Uber also partners with several robotaxi companies in other markets, including the Middle East.
InDrive, which has built its business around affordable ride-hailing, is moving toward a similar focus on autonomous ride-hailing as it taps into a market that Uber and other rivals have already moved into.
“Our approach is capital-light by design,” Misnick says. “We work with different partners in different markets and combine their expertise with ours to deliver a better customer experience.”
Nvidia says its Hyperion platform can reduce robotaxi development costs by providing companies with a ready-made foundation of sensor and computing technology instead of having to build and integrate everything themselves. The company also offers Alpamayo models and tools to generate synthetic data and test autonomous driving systems across a variety of driving scenarios.
“These savings are especially important in emerging markets where ride-hailing services are already relatively affordable and self-driving services need to compete on cost,” Ali Kani, vice president of automotive at Nvidia, told TechCrunch.
The announcement coincided with NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang’s first visit to Kazakhstan on Friday.
Kazakhstan’s offer would also further strengthen Pony.ai’s continued push beyond China. The company aims to have more than 3,500 robot taxis operating in more than 20 cities around the world by the end of 2026, up from 1,975 at the end of June.
Last month, Kazakhstan announced plans to launch a self-driving taxi service in 2027, with initial trials planned in Astana and two other cities. It also introduced rules for testing self-driving cars on certain public roads.
Astana’s harsh winters could make it a useful testing ground for robotaxis. The city of about 1.7 million people has been plagued by snow and ice for months, posing a challenge to self-driving systems.
“The launch here will be an important opportunity to evaluate self-driving technology under harsh winter conditions,” said Arsene Tomsky, founder and CEO of inDrive. “Success in Astana could provide valuable insights for expanding self-driving mobility to other locations facing similar challenges.”
Kazakhstan isn’t the only market where inDrive is considering robotaxis. In December, the company signed a separate deal with a Saudi Arabian AI driver to explore deploying self-driving cars powered by Chinese self-driving company WeRide, starting in Riyadh. The companies had targeted a trial run in the first half of 2026, but it remains unclear whether the trial has begun.
“We’re also looking at a number of other markets for future expansion,” Misnick said. “In our view, one of the key requirements for a successful launch is a favorable and supportive regulatory environment to facilitate safe and sustainable testing on the road.”
inDrive operates in more than 1,200 cities in 47 countries. The company has expanded beyond ride-hailing to include delivery, intercity transportation, and financial services.
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