Stellantis partners with Pony.ai to bring fully autonomous self-driving electric vans to Europe

Stellantis is teaming up with Chinese autonomous driving pioneer Pony.ai to bring hands-free, eyes-off electric vans to European roads, the two companies said Friday. The collaboration marks one of the boldest cross-continental pushes yet in autonomous vehicle development, combining Stellantis’ deep automotive experience with Pony.ai’s AI-driven self-driving tech.

In a post on X, Pony AI said, “We’re partnering with @Stellantis to accelerate #robotaxi development in Europe! Together, we’ll test SAE Level 4 AVs starting in Luxembourg—combining Pony.ai’s autonomous tech with Stellantis’ AV-Ready Platform.”

Under the agreement announced Friday, the two companies will jointly develop and test self-driving vehicles in Europe, starting with Stellantis’ battery-electric medium-sized van platform built for SAE Level 4 autonomy. The initial testing will use the Peugeot e-Traveller in Luxembourg, with plans to roll out across multiple European cities beginning in 2026.

“Driverless vehicles have the potential to transform the way people move in our cities, offering safer and more affordable options for communities,” Stellantis Chief Engineering & Technology Officer Ned Curic said in a news release. “To bring this vision to life, we’ve built Stellantis’ AV-Ready Platforms and are partnering with the best players in the industry. Pony.ai stands out for their technical expertise and collaborative approach.”

From Robotaxis to Vans: Pony.ai Expands to Europe in New Partnership with Stellantis

The vehicles will integrate Pony.ai’s autonomous driving software into Stellantis’ electric architecture, blending artificial intelligence with advanced vehicle systems to meet Europe’s strict safety and regulatory standards. The partnership will focus first on light commercial vehicles — a category where Stellantis already holds a strong position through its Pro One commercial vehicle unit.

Founded in 2016 by James Peng and Tiancheng Lou, Pony.ai has grown into one of China’s leading autonomous driving firms, running fully driverless robotaxi services in major cities like Beijing and Guangzhou. The company, which also operates out of Fremont, California, plans to manage its European expansion through its Luxembourg-based division.

“We are delighted to partner with Stellantis to bring our autonomous mobility technology to Europe,” Peng said. “Their strong European presence and portfolio of iconic brands make them the ideal partner to help accelerate our growth in this key market.”

“Pony.ai is the leading autonomous driving technology company in China, with a mission to revolutionize the future of transportation by building the safest and most reliable solution for autonomous mobility,” the company said.

For Stellantis, the move fits into a broader push to integrate next-generation technologies across its lineup. The automaker has been steadily electrifying its fleet while exploring automation in both passenger and commercial vehicles. With Pony.ai’s software at its core, the upcoming generation of electric vans could set a new standard for safety and convenience in European logistics and urban mobility.

Testing in Luxembourg is expected to begin soon, paving the way for a wider European rollout that could redefine how commercial fleets operate in the years ahead.