Pony.ai, the autonomous driving company, officially launched its autonomous vehicle demonstration line on February 21, 2025, in Guangzhou, China. This initiative allows users to utilize self-driving cars for transportation between popular destinations within the city, including the Baiyun Airport and the southern railway station.
The demonstration routes currently covered by this service include four key corridors, namely: the Garden Hotel to Baiyun Airport and back, the Guangzhou Tower to the southern railway station and back, Zhujiang Xincheng (Xiancun Metro Station) to the southern railway station and back, and Zhujiang Xincheng (Xiancun Metro Station) to the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and back. The operating hours for these routes are set daily from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM and from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM. Users can easily pre-book their vehicles through the latest version of the Pony.ai app by accessing the 'Airport Transfer' and 'Train Station' sections.
This development reflects the strong governmental support and structured promotion of autonomous driving policies within Guangzhou. The vehicles deployed for this service are based on the sixth generation Xiaoma Zhixing autonomous driving system integrated within Toyota Sienna models, which have received clearance for testing on urban expressways as part of Guangzhou's demonstration vehicle catalog.
Authorized by local government departments, the routes and operational plan have received full approval. The establishment of this demonstration line rises alongside the newly approved 'Regulations on the Innovative Development of Intelligent Networked Vehicles in Guangzhou,' set to be implemented starting February 28, 2025. These regulations intend to systematically promote the infrastructure necessary for integrating self-driving vehicles with traditional traffic.
According to the regulation, local governmental bodies are tasked with gradually developing pilot zones for mixed traffic involving both human-operated and autonomous vehicles. They must also support the innovative usage of smart networked vehicles across various information corridors, including urban roads, highways, airports, and transportation hubs.
The opening of this demonstration line signifies Pony.ai's commitment to penetrate major transport nodes and urban centers of Guangzhou. Baiyun Airport holds the distinction of being the busiest airport in China by annual passenger flow for four consecutive years since 2020, whereas the Guangzhou southern railway station serves as the largest railway hub, anticipating over 1.7 billion passenger trips by 2024.
No matter where one begins—be it the Zhujiang Xincheng area or the Guangzhou Tower—the travel involves traversing through some of the busiest roads of central Guangzhou, even at night, which adds complexity to the technology's performance. The Garden Hotel, Zhujiang Xincheng district, and the Guangzhou Tower represent significant landmarks contributing to the city's modern development, allowing passengers to experience unique cityscapes during their trips.
The Garden Hotel, acclaimed as one of China’s three platinum five-star hotels, showcases Guangzhou's rich history and serves as the city's historical architectural backdrop. Zhujiang Xincheng stands as the heart of Guangzhou's business district, flaunting skyscrapers attracting numerous investments, whereas the Guangzhou Tower, affectionately referred to as 'Little Waist,' dominates the city’s skyline.
Public Engagement with Autonomous Technology
The launch of this demonstration line allows residents and tourists alike to engage with and experience safe, comfortable autonomous driving services within the city center. Previously, Pony.ai had unlocked autonomous driving scenarios at key transport nodes like the Daxing Airport and the southern railway station of Beijing. Now, with concurrent services operating in Guangzhou’s urban center, airport, and railway stations, alongside commercially billed rides, it undoubtedly accelerates Pony.ai's advancements and exploration of commercial applications.
This move exemplifies significant milestones for autonomous technology, promoting passenger safety and efficiency across both local and regional travel avenues.