New Delhi, Jan. 30 -- A Journey in one of Pony.ai's robotaxis is, in some respects, a familiar experience for anyone who has ridden in a cab in China. For one thing, the horn honks just as often. Yet as the steering wheel moves of its own accord and a screen shows outlines of surrounding cars, it also feels futuristic.

Pony.ai is one of a number of Chinese firms that have launched robotaxi services in recent years. The biggest, Apollo Go, has deployed more than 1,000 self-driving cars, mostly in China. The service, which is owned by Baidu, a Chinese tech giant, hopes to have 20,000 robotaxis operating worldwide by 2027. Pony.ai has launched its service in four cities and WeRide in three. CaoCao Mobility, the ride-hailing arm of Geely, a ...