inDrive, Pony.ai and Nvidia sign MoU for 2027 robotaxi tests in Kazakhstan

Ride-hailing company inDrive, known for letting passengers and drivers negotiate fares, is working with Chinese autonomous driving firm Pony.ai and Nvidia on robotaxi testing in Kazakhstan. The companies said they had signed a memorandum of understanding to explore bringing Pony.ai's robotaxis to inDrive's platform. TechCrunch frames it as a sign of growing interest in self-driving technology beyond the U.S. and China.

According to inDrive CTO Yuri Misnik, testing will begin in Kazakhstan's capital, Astana, in the first half of 2027. The tests will initially involve a safety operator, with fully driverless rides as the eventual goal.

Under the proposed plan, Pony.ai would provide its Gen-7 robotaxis, which inDrive would offer through its ride-hailing app and operate in Kazakhstan. Nvidia would supply the AI technology, including its Hyperion platform and Halos safety system. Nvidia says Hyperion could lower the cost of developing robotaxis by giving companies a ready-made foundation of sensors and computing technology, instead of making them build and integrate everything themselves. Nvidia also offers its Alpamayo model and tools to generate synthetic data and test autonomous driving systems across different driving scenarios.

Misnik described inDrive's approach as "capital-light by design": the company works with a range of partners in different markets and combines their expertise with its own. Ali Kani, Nvidia's vice president of automotive, said the savings from Hyperion are particularly relevant in emerging markets, where ride-hailing is already relatively affordable and autonomous services need to compete on cost. The announcement coincided with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's first visit to Kazakhstan on Friday.

The context is a wider push by ride-hailing companies into robotaxis. Earlier this month Uber announced plans to test Pony.ai's robotaxis in London, where it has also started offering supervised autonomous rides with British startup Wayve. Uber is also working with several robotaxi companies in other markets, including the Middle East. inDrive, which built its business around affordable rides, is now trying to bring a similar focus to autonomous ride-hailing in a market where Uber and other rivals are already moving.

The Kazakhstan plan would add to Pony.ai's expansion beyond China. The company aims to have more than 3,500 robotaxis in over 20 cities worldwide by the end of 2026, up from a fleet of 1,975 vehicles at the end of June.

Kazakhstan itself announced last month that it plans to launch autonomous taxi services in 2027, with initial trials in Astana and two other cities. It has also introduced rules for testing autonomous vehicles on certain public roads. TechCrunch notes that Astana's harsh winters could make it a useful testing ground: the city, with around 1.7 million people, faces months of snow and ice. inDrive founder and CEO Arsen Tomsky said launching there would give an important chance to evaluate the technology in challenging winter conditions, and that success in Astana could offer insights for other locations facing similar challenges.

Kazakhstan is not inDrive's only robotaxi exploration. In December the company signed a separate agreement with Saudi Arabia's AI Driver to explore deploying autonomous vehicles powered by Chinese self-driving firm WeRide, starting with Riyadh. The companies had targeted a pilot in the first half of 2026, though it remains unclear whether testing has begun. Misnik said inDrive is looking at a number of other markets for future deployments, and that a favorable and collaborative regulatory environment is one of the main requisites for a successful launch. inDrive operates in more than 1,200 cities across 47 countries and has expanded beyond ride-hailing into delivery, intercity transportation and financial services.

Key facts

inDrive, Pony.ai and Nvidia signed a memorandum of understanding to explore bringing Pony.ai's robotaxis to inDrive's platform.
Testing is planned for Astana, Kazakhstan, in the first half of 2027, initially with a safety operator and fully driverless rides as the eventual goal.
Pony.ai would supply Gen-7 robotaxis, which inDrive would offer in its app and operate; Nvidia would supply AI technology including its Hyperion platform and Halos safety system.
Pony.ai aims for more than 3,500 robotaxis in over 20 cities by the end of 2026, up from 1,975 vehicles at the end of June.
Kazakhstan announced last month plans to launch autonomous taxi services in 2027, with initial trials in Astana and two other cities.

Why it matters

It is another sign of robotaxi activity spreading beyond the U.S. and China. Uber has announced plans to test Pony.ai's robotaxis in London, and inDrive, which built its business around affordable rides, now wants to bring that focus to autonomous ride-hailing. For Pony.ai the deal would add to a push beyond China that targets more than 3,500 robotaxis in over 20 cities by the end of 2026. For Nvidia, Hyperion is pitched as a way to cut development costs, which Nvidia's Ali Kani says matters in emerging markets where autonomous services must compete on cost.

Who it affects

inDrive, which operates in more than 1,200 cities across 47 countries and would add robotaxis to its app; Pony.ai and Nvidia, which would supply vehicles and AI technology; and Kazakhstan, which plans autonomous taxi services in 2027 with initial trials in Astana and two other cities. Rivals such as Uber are already making moves in the market. Astana has around 1.7 million residents.

How to use it

There is nothing to use yet. This is an agreement to explore, not a launched service. Testing in Astana is planned for the first half of 2027 and will start with a safety operator. Under the proposed plan, inDrive would offer Pony.ai's Gen-7 robotaxis through its ride-hailing app and operate them in Kazakhstan. The source gives no pricing.

How solid is it

The facts come from the companies' announcement and comments to TechCrunch from inDrive CTO Yuri Misnik and Nvidia's vice president of automotive Ali Kani. The agreement is a memorandum of understanding "to explore" the idea, and the plan is described as proposed. The source gives no financial terms, no number of vehicles for the Astana tests and no timeline for fully driverless rides. The cost savings from Hyperion are Nvidia's claim ("could lower"), with no figure given.

Risks and caveats

The 2027 start is a plan, not a commitment, and the tests will begin with a safety operator. inDrive's earlier robotaxi deal, signed in December with Saudi Arabia's AI Driver to deploy WeRide-powered vehicles in Riyadh, targeted a pilot in the first half of 2026, and it remains unclear whether testing has begun. Astana's months of snow and ice pose challenges for autonomous driving systems. Misnik also said a favorable and collaborative regulatory environment is one of the main requisites for a successful launch.

“Our approach is capital-light by design”

— Yuri Misnik, inDrive CTO