Ride-hailing company inDrive plans to test robotaxis in Kazakhstan in 2027. It is working with Chinese self-driving firm Pony.ai and chipmaker Nvidia on the project.
The companies said Friday they signed a memorandum of understanding. The deal would explore bringing Pony.ai’s robotaxis to inDrive’s ride-hailing platform.
Testing will begin in the capital city, Astana, in the first half of 2027, according to inDrive Chief Technology Officer Yuri Misnik. The first tests will include a safety operator, with fully driverless rides as the long-term goal.
How the Partnership Would Work
Under the plan, Pony.ai would provide its Gen-7 robotaxis. inDrive would offer the rides through its app and run the service in Kazakhstan.
Nvidia would supply the AI technology. This includes its Hyperion platform and its Halos safety system.
Nvidia says Hyperion can lower the cost of building robotaxis. It gives companies a ready-made base of sensors and computing tools, so they do not have to build everything themselves.
“Those savings are particularly relevant in emerging markets, where ride-hailing is already relatively affordable and autonomous services need to compete on cost,” said Ali Kani, Nvidia’s vice president of automotive.
inDrive is known for letting riders and drivers negotiate fares. Misnik said the company’s approach is “capital-light by design” and relies on partners in different markets.
Why Astana Was Chosen
Kazakhstan announced last month that it plans to launch autonomous taxi services in 2027. Early trials are planned in Astana and two other cities, and the country has set rules for testing on some public roads.
Astana has about 1.7 million people and faces months of snow and ice. These conditions can be hard for self-driving systems.
inDrive founder and CEO Arsen Tomsky said the launch will offer a chance to test the technology in tough winter weather. He added that success in Astana could help the company expand to places with similar conditions.
The project adds to Pony.ai’s growth outside China. The company aims to have more than 3,500 robotaxis in over 20 cities worldwide by the end of 2026, up from 1,975 vehicles at the end of June.
Rival Uber is also expanding in this area. Earlier this month, it announced plans to test Pony.ai’s robotaxis in London, where it already offers supervised self-driving rides with British startup Wayve.
inDrive has another robotaxi deal in Saudi Arabia. In December, it signed an agreement with AI Driver to explore vehicles powered by Chinese firm WeRide in Riyadh, though it is unclear if testing has started.
inDrive operates in more than 1,200 cities across 47 countries. It also offers delivery, intercity travel, and financial services.
The Kazakhstan announcement came on the same day Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang made his first visit to the country. Testing in Astana is expected to begin in the first half of 2027.
