inDrive signed a memorandum of understanding with Chinese self‑driving firm Pony.ai and Nvidia to trial robotaxis in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana. The pilot will start in the first half of 2027 and will begin with a safety operator on board, aiming for fully driverless rides later. Pony.ai will supply its Gen‑7 autonomous vehicles, while Nvidia will provide its Hyperion computing platform and Halos safety system. The effort is part of inDrive’s push to add low‑cost autonomous rides to its global network.
Why it matters
If the trial succeeds, Kazakh riders could get cheaper, on‑demand rides without a driver, and the harsh winter conditions will test the technology’s robustness.
