Shenzhen Robotaxi Guide: How to Ride a Driverless Taxi

Yes, you can hail a car with nobody in the driver's seat in Shenzhen—and it is easier than it looks. Whether you call it a Robotaxi, driverless taxi, self-driving taxi or autonomous taxi, this is a real public service that anyone with the right app can try.

The simplest option is Pony.ai—also searched as Pony AI and known in Chinese as 小马智行. Open the PonyPilot app or mini program, choose two points inside the service area, walk to the marked pickup point and unlock the car with your phone. Once everyone has fastened their seat belt, tap the start button on the passenger screen and the car drives away by itself.

For your first ride, try a short trip around Qianhai, Houhai or Shenzhen Bay. It is one of the most memorable—and surprisingly affordable—technology experiences in Shenzhen.

Quick answer: how to book a self-driving taxi in Shenzhen

• Open PonyPilot / 小马智行 or its WeChat mini program.
• Register with your phone number and set up payment.
• Check the shaded service area on the map.
• Select one of the marked pickup points and a valid destination.
• Confirm the price and request the car.
• Walk to the exact pin and unlock the vehicle in the app.
• Fasten your seat belt and tap Start Trip on the rear screen.

The booking process feels much like Didi. The main difference is that the Robotaxi cannot pull over anywhere you like. You need to meet it at one of the stops shown in the app—often beside a metro exit, mall, office complex or roadside bay.

Which Shenzhen Robotaxi app should you use?

Pony.ai / PonyPilot

Pony.ai is the easiest place to start if the driverless car itself is the attraction. Search for PonyPilot, Pony.ai taxi or 小马智行 in your app store or WeChat.

Recent foreign riders also report booking Pony.ai through Amap / Gaode Maps when a Robotaxi is available nearby. One Reddit user booked through the PonyPilot WeChat mini program with a non-Chinese phone number, switched the interface to English and watched the car arrive in about five minutes. Another found the Robotaxi option directly inside Amap and paid with Alipay.

App access can differ by phone and account, so set it up before travelling across town. If one route does not work, try the official PonyPilot app, its WeChat mini program and Amap in that order.

Apollo Go and Ruqi

Apollo Go / 萝卜快跑 also operates autonomous taxis in Shenzhen and can be found through its app, WeChat mini program or Baidu Maps. Ruqi Mobility / 如祺出行 serves parts of Bao'an and Nanshan with a mix of regular cars and Robotaxis.

Check the vehicle type before paying if an empty driver's seat is the whole point of your trip.

Where can you ride a driverless taxi in Shenzhen?

The most useful areas for visitors are in western Shenzhen:

• Qianhai and Bao'an Center
• Houhai and Shenzhen Bay
• Shenzhen Bay Sports Center and Talent Park
• OH Bay / Happy Harbour
• Qianhai Stone Park and Qianhai MixC
• Bao'an International Airport
• Shenzhen Bay Port
• Shekou Cruise Port

The live map is the easiest way to see today's coverage. Both your pickup and destination must appear as valid points in the app.

A good sightseeing plan is to take the metro to Qianhai or Houhai, ride the Robotaxi for 15–30 minutes and finish at a waterfront park or shopping centre. That gives you the full experience without depending on it for a long cross-city journey.

Taking a Pony.ai taxi from Shenzhen Airport

At Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport, the Pony.ai pickup point is in the P3 car park. Xiaohongshu creator 杨肉 ordered after landing, met the vehicle at P3 and fitted four passengers plus luggage inside.

Their main complaint was the route: without access to every expressway, the Robotaxi took a less direct road than a regular Didi. It is a fun choice for Bao'an or another nearby destination, but use the metro or a normal taxi when you have a tight connection.

Cars can also be scarce during busy arrival periods. Open the app before walking to P3 so you know whether a vehicle is available.

How much does a Shenzhen Robotaxi cost?

Robotaxi fares are generally competitive with ordinary taxis, and new-user coupons can make the first few rides very cheap.

Xiaohongshu creator 路亚黔 paid just RMB 9 for a first ride and described the experience positively. Other riders report short discounted trips for less than RMB 20. Your price appears before booking, just as it does in a normal ride-hailing app.

Treat the discount as a bonus rather than the reason to travel across Shenzhen. The best value is a short ride that also connects two places you wanted to visit.

What happens when the car arrives?

First, match the number plate with the one in the app. Unlock the doors with your phone and sit in the back. The driver's seat is empty or closed off, depending on the model.

The car will not begin moving until everyone is buckled in. A passenger screen shows the route and a live visualisation of nearby cars, scooters, cyclists and pedestrians. Tap the on-screen button to start the journey.

The strange part lasts about 30 seconds. You watch the steering wheel turn through the first junction, perhaps film a quick video, and then the ride begins to feel completely normal.

The cars tend to drive smoothly and cautiously. They brake early, give scooters plenty of room and sometimes wait longer than a human driver at a complicated junction. One recent foreign rider was impressed when the car avoided oncoming scooters and honked before entering a tight blind corner.

At the destination, the car pulls into its assigned stop and unlocks the doors. Check the seat for your phone and bags before leaving.

What recent riders say

The most useful advice comes from people who have actually taken the trip:

• 杨肉 used Pony.ai from Bao'an Airport, found the P3 pickup point straightforward and recommends it for shorter Bao'an journeys. See the airport post on Xiaohongshu.
• 路亚黔 paid RMB 9 for a first Robotaxi ride and came away impressed. See the RMB 9 ride on Xiaohongshu.
• Luke & Alex 外国兄弟 called Shenzhen's robot taxis a great experience in their first-person video. Watch their Xiaohongshu post.
• A recent Reddit rider registered through WeChat, switched PonyPilot to English and had a car arrive in around five minutes. Read the rider's instructions.

The recurring tip is to arrive at the pickup pin before the vehicle. A Robotaxi follows its map; it will not call you, negotiate a meeting place or circle the block like a patient taxi driver.

Is it a real taxi service or still a test?

This is a commercial service carrying paying passengers, not a closed technology demonstration.

In February 2026, Pony.ai's seventh-generation Robotaxis in Shenzhen averaged 23 paid trips per vehicle per day and RMB 338 in daily net revenue per vehicle. On 22 March, that rose to 25 trips and RMB 394 per vehicle.

For comparison, Shenzhen's wider ride-hailing market averaged 13.6 completed trips per vehicle per day during the first half of 2026. Pony.ai is also working with local taxi operator Xihu Group on a plan to deploy more than 1,000 seventh-generation Robotaxis in Shenzhen.

Across its markets, Pony.ai had 1,975 Robotaxis by the end of June 2026 and more than 1.5 million registered users in China by August. Robotaxi-service revenue reached US$12.1 million in the second quarter, up 691% year over year.

Those numbers explain why the experience feels so polished. The cars are still unusual enough to turn heads, but they are doing real taxi work every day.

Are self-driving taxis in Shenzhen safe?

Shenzhen's commercial Robotaxis operate inside approved service areas under the city's intelligent-connected-vehicle rules. The vehicles use cameras and other sensors to track traffic in every direction, with remote support available through the cabin system.

Baidu's Apollo Go passed 350 million autonomous kilometres and 23 million public rides in 2026. Pony.ai's newest fleet operates through rush hour, holidays and heavy rain. The passenger experience is deliberately conservative: early braking and patient turns are part of the design.

The rules inside are simple. Verify the plate, wear your seat belt, follow the screen prompts and use the support or emergency control if you need help.

Five tips for your first Shenzhen Robotaxi ride

• Do it in Nanshan or Qianhai. These areas combine good coverage with parks, malls and waterfront attractions.
• Choose a short route. A 15–30 minute trip is long enough to enjoy the technology without losing half your day.
• Stand on the exact pin. Being across a wide Shenzhen road can mean missing the car entirely.
• Keep a translation app ready. The map is easy to follow, but some prompts and support options remain in Chinese.
• Do not use it when you are late. Take Didi or the metro for an airport dash, train connection or important meeting.

The bottom line

Riding in a car with no driver sounds like a major expedition. In Shenzhen, it is mostly a matter of downloading the app and standing in the right place.

Take the metro to Qianhai or Shenzhen Bay, book a short Pony.ai ride and watch the steering wheel handle real city traffic on its own. A few minutes later, the futuristic part fades into the background—and that may be the most impressive thing about it.

For a fixed-route autonomous ride, compare the Qianhai autonomous bus. Around Houhai, combine the taxi with Shenzhen Bay's drone delivery, technology stores and waterfront.

Frequently asked questions

Can tourists ride a Robotaxi in Shenzhen?

Yes. Tourists can book a Shenzhen Robotaxi through PonyPilot, the Pony.ai WeChat mini program or Amap when the service appears in a covered area. Set up your phone number and payment method before travelling to the pickup zone.

What is the best app for a driverless taxi in Shenzhen?

Start with PonyPilot / 小马智行. Amap can also show a Pony.ai taxi when one is available nearby. Apollo Go uses its own app or WeChat mini program, while Ruqi mixes Robotaxis with ordinary ride-hailing cars.

What is Robotaxi called in Chinese?

Useful search terms are 无人驾驶出租车 or 自动驾驶出租车 for a driverless or autonomous taxi. Pony.ai is 小马智行, PonyPilot is 小马智行乘客端, and Apollo Go is 萝卜快跑.

Does Pony.ai work with a foreign phone number?

Recent foreign riders have registered for PonyPilot through WeChat with a non-Chinese number. Results can depend on the phone, account and app version, so install and test it before setting out. Amap with Alipay is a useful second option.

Where is the easiest place to try a self-driving taxi in Shenzhen?

Qianhai, Houhai and Shenzhen Bay are the easiest areas for a first ride. They have useful pickup points near metro stations, malls, parks and the waterfront, so you can make the Robotaxi part of a normal day out.

Can I take a Robotaxi from Shenzhen Bao'an Airport?

Yes. Pony.ai uses a designated pickup point in the airport's P3 car park. Check for an available car in the app before walking to the pickup area.

How much is a Pony.ai taxi in Shenzhen?

The app shows the price before you book. Short rides are competitive with normal taxis, and introductory coupons can reduce the fare sharply. One recent Xiaohongshu rider paid RMB 9 for a first trip.

Is a Shenzhen Robotaxi completely driverless?

Many commercial rides operate with no safety driver behind the wheel. Passengers start the trip from the rear screen, and remote support is available through the vehicle if help is needed.

Can a Robotaxi pick me up anywhere in Shenzhen?

No. Driverless taxis use approved service zones and marked pickup points. Both ends of the trip must be accepted by the app; the car cannot simply stop outside any hotel or address.

Is a Robotaxi better than Didi or the metro?

It is better as a Shenzhen technology experience than as an all-purpose transport option. Use a Robotaxi for a relaxed short ride in Nanshan or Bao'an. Choose Didi or the metro for a tight airport connection, a cross-city trip or an address outside the service zone.

Sources

Updated 18 September 2026. Check the operator app for current routes, hours and fares.

• Pony.ai Robotaxi service
• Pony.ai Shenzhen operating figures
• Pony.ai Q2 2026 fleet and revenue update
• Shenzhen Government: commercial operation in Nanshan
• Shenzhen Transport Bureau: H1 2026 ride-hailing report
• Baidu: Q2 2026 Apollo Go operating scale
• Ruqi Shenzhen Robotaxi service
• Recent rider instructions on Reddit
• Xiaohongshu: airport pickup at P3
• Xiaohongshu: RMB 9 first ride
• Xiaohongshu: international visitor experience