Uber partners with China's Pony AI

Uber said on Tuesday it was partnering with Pony AI to deploy the China-based robotaxi developer's vehicles onto its ride-hailing platform, marking the latest in a series of tie-ups aimed at strengthening its presence in the fledgling robotaxi sector, reports Reuters.

The partnership will launch in a key market in the Middle East later this year and will roll out to more international markets in the future.

During the initial pilot phase, Pony AI's vehicles will include a safety operator onboard before transitioning to a fully autonomous commercial launch.

Uber has signed several new partnerships and expanded existing collaborations in recent weeks, aiming better compete with Lyft and EV-maker Tesla in the robotaxi market.

The company announced deals with self-driving technology firms May Mobility and Momenta last week and recently expanded its partnership with China's WeRide to enter 15 more cities globally. Last year, the company also expanded its tie-up with Alphabet's Waymo.