Bolt launches first autonomous mobility pilot in Europe with Pony.ai and Stellantis in Luxembourg
- Perry Richardson
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Bolt has announced its first autonomous mobility pilot programme, partnering with Pony.ai and Stellantis to launch a driverless vehicle testing initiative in Luxembourg.
The pilot will focus on validating the safety, performance and regulatory readiness of Pony.ai’s seventh-generation autonomous vehicle technology within Luxembourg’s road network. The project is being supported by the country’s approach to autonomous vehicle testing and will serve as a practical environment for assessing how autonomous mobility services can operate in a real-world European setting.
Stellantis will provide a midsize van built on its L4-Ready Platform™, contributing vehicle engineering and manufacturing expertise to the programme. The three companies are now preparing what they describe as a “living lab” pilot designed to test not only the autonomous driving technology itself, but also the wider operational ecosystem required to support commercial deployment.
The pilot will examine areas including vehicle deployment, integration with Bolt’s ride-hailing platform, fleet management processes and engagement with regulators. The companies say the objective is to understand how autonomous services can be safely integrated into urban transport networks before any future commercial rollout.
New pilot aims to test autonomous ride-hailing operations and achieve driverless readiness using Pony.ai technology and Stellantis vehicles.
The initiative builds on existing collaborations between Bolt, Pony.ai and Stellantis, with the partners aiming to achieve driverless operational readiness by the conclusion of the pilot programme.
For Bolt, the announcement represents a significant strategic step. While the company has grown into one of Europe’s largest ride-hailing platforms, this is its first autonomous mobility pilot. The move signals Bolt’s intention to explore how autonomous vehicle technology could eventually be integrated into its marketplace across European cities.
The development will be closely watched by stakeholders across the taxi and private hire industry. While autonomous vehicle pilots have expanded rapidly in parts of the United States and China, large-scale commercial deployment across Europe has progressed more slowly due to differing regulatory frameworks and public acceptance considerations.
The involvement of Stellantis is also notable. The manufacturer has increasingly positioned its L4-Ready vehicle platforms as a foundation for future autonomous mobility services, allowing technology partners to integrate self-driving systems into vehicles designed for commercial passenger transport applications.
Pony.ai brings experience from autonomous vehicle testing and operations in multiple international markets. Its Gen-7 autonomous driving system is expected to form the technological backbone of the Luxembourg programme as the companies seek to demonstrate that autonomous ride-hailing services can operate safely within a European regulatory environment.
Markus Villig, Founder and CEO of Bolt, said: “Autonomous mobility technology is already transforming transportation around the world, and as the only independent, European-founded ride-hailing platform competing globally, we want to be at the forefront of scaling this revolutionary technology in Europe.
“We welcome Luxembourg’s progressive approach to testing this technology and we are excited to work closely with our European partner Stellantis, and global software leader Pony.ai to launch further pilots in the future.”
Dr. James Peng, Founder and CEO of Pony.ai, stated: “Luxembourg’s forward-looking regulatory environment provides a strong foundation for autonomous mobility testing in Europe. Together with Bolt and Stellantis, we look forward to validating Pony.ai’s technology in local traffic scenarios and supporting the responsible development of autonomous mobility across the region.”
Ned Curic, Chief Engineering and Technology Officer, Stellantis, said: “Autonomous mobility can make transportation more accessible and affordable for customers. At Stellantis, our L4-Ready Platforms™ are designed to deliver flexible, scalable solutions across multiple vehicle segments. By working with partners like Bolt and Pony.ai, we aim to bring driverless mobility into everyday life in a way that is safe, efficient and easy to use.”
