Pony AI Inc. (PONY) Q3 2025 Earnings Call Transcript

Access earnings results, analyst expectations, report, slides, earnings call, and transcript.

Overview

The earnings call reveals mixed signals: strong revenue growth and optimistic guidance, but increased net loss and declining cash reserves. The Q&A highlights positive fleet expansion and operational improvements, but concerns about cash burn and competition remain. Without market cap data, a neutral stock reaction is likely.

Key Financial Performance

Revenue USD 25.4 million, growing by 72% year-over-year. This strong performance was primarily driven by the continuous optimization of robotaxi services and sustained demand in licensing and application business.

Robotaxi Services Revenue USD 6.7 million, representing a remarkable growth of 89.5% year-over-year and 338.7% quarter-over-quarter. Fare-charging revenue surged 233.3% year-over-year, driven by growing user demand in Tier 1 cities, optimized fleet operation, and pricing strategy.

Robotruck Service Revenue USD 10.2 million, growing by 8.7% year-over-year. Growth is expected to accelerate with the launch of Gen-4 robotrucks, which reduce BOM cost by 70%.

Licensing and Application Revenue USD 8.6 million, growing significantly by 354.6% year-over-year. This growth is driven by robust demand for autonomous domain controllers, primarily from robot delivery clients.

Gross Profit Margin 18.4% in Q3 2025, up from 9.2% in Q3 2024. This improvement was driven by strategic revenue mix optimization and higher-margin robotaxi services.

Net Loss USD 61.6 million compared to USD 42.1 million in the same period last year. Non-GAAP net loss was USD 55 million compared to USD 41.4 million last year. The increase is attributed to one-off R&D investments and expansion of R&D personnel.

Cash and Cash Equivalents USD 587.7 million as of September 30, 2025, compared to USD 747.7 million as of June 30, 2025. The decrease is due to one-off cash outflows, including capital injection to Zhuifeng joint venture and capital expenditure for Gen-7 vehicle procurement.

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Operating Highlights

Gen-7 Robotaxi: Launched fully driverless commercial service in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Beijing. Achieved citywide unit economics breakeven in Guangzhou shortly after launch. Over 600 Gen-7 robotaxis produced by November, with a total fleet size exceeding 900 vehicles. Expected to surpass 1,000 vehicles by year-end and grow to over 3,000 vehicles in 2026.

Gen-4 Robotruck: Production and initial fleet deployment expected in 2026. Features fully automotive-grade components, optimized software-hardware integration, and transition to electric vehicles. Expected to reduce BOM cost by 70%.

Hong Kong IPO: Completed dual primary listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, raising over USD 800 million. Largest IPO in the global autonomous driving sector in 2025.

International Expansion: Expanded robotaxi presence to 8 countries, including new markets in Qatar and South Korea. Collaborations with local partners like Mowasalat in Qatar and ComfortDelGro in South Korea. Testing vehicles planned for Luxembourg through partnership with Stellantis. Partnerships with Uber and Bolt to enter the Middle East and scale internationally.

Fleet Expansion: Fleet size expected to surpass 1,000 vehicles by year-end 2025 and grow to over 3,000 vehicles in 2026. Asset-light model implemented for fleet expansion, with third-party partners funding vehicle purchases.

Revenue Growth: Q3 2025 revenue reached USD 25.4 million, a 72% year-over-year increase. Robotaxi revenue grew by 89.5% year-over-year, with fare-charging revenue up 233.3%. Licensing and application revenues grew by 354.6%.

Cost Optimization: Reduced BOM cost for Gen-7 robotaxis by 70% compared to the previous generation. Further 20% reduction expected for 2026 production. Improved operational efficiency through AI algorithms and fleet management.

Technology Leadership: Pioneered 100% automotive-grade autonomous driving kit for Gen-7 robotaxis. Developed a closed-loop training environment called PonyWorld for self-improving AI. Focused on generalization of technology for diverse markets and platforms.

Asset-Light Model: Transitioned to an asset-light model for fleet expansion, leveraging third-party funding to enhance capital efficiency.

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Risk or Challenges

Regulatory Challenges: The company faces regulatory challenges in expanding its robotaxi and robotruck operations across different regions, including obtaining permits and adapting to diverse traffic conditions and local regulations in international markets such as South Korea, Qatar, and Europe.

Operational Efficiency Risks: The company is heavily reliant on achieving operational efficiency through advanced AI algorithms and fleet management. Any failure in optimizing fleet utilization, order dispatch, or reducing costs could adversely impact profitability.

Supply Chain and Production Risks: The company is scaling up production of Gen-7 robotaxis and Gen-4 robotrucks. Delays or disruptions in the supply chain, production inefficiencies, or failure to meet production targets could hinder growth plans.

Financial Risks: Despite raising significant capital through IPOs, the company reported a net loss of USD 61.6 million in Q3 2025. Sustained losses and high operational costs could strain financial resources, especially if revenue growth does not meet expectations.

Market Competition: The autonomous driving sector is highly competitive, with numerous players vying for market share. Failure to maintain technological leadership or adapt to market demands could erode the company's competitive position.

Technological Risks: The company relies on advanced AI and autonomous driving technologies. Any failure in technology development, such as issues with the autonomous driving kit or software, could impact safety, user adoption, and operational efficiency.

Economic and Geopolitical Risks: The company operates in multiple international markets, exposing it to economic uncertainties, geopolitical tensions, and currency fluctuations that could impact operations and financial performance.

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Guidance & Outlook

Revenue Growth: The company expects robotaxi revenue growth to accelerate further, driven by fleet expansion to over 3,000 vehicles by 2026 and increasing operational efficiency.

Fleet Expansion: The company plans to exceed its 2025 target of 1,000 vehicles and grow its fleet to more than 3,000 vehicles by 2026. This includes transitioning to an asset-light model for a significant portion of new vehicles.

Global Expansion: The company is expanding its robotaxi services internationally, with operations in 8 countries, including new markets like Qatar and South Korea. It plans to leverage partnerships with global ride-hailing platforms like Uber and Bolt to scale into additional international markets.

Robotruck Development: The company plans to launch its fourth-generation robotruck in 2026, featuring fully automotive-grade components and a 70% reduction in BOM cost. The fleet is expected to reach 1,000 units.

Technological Advancements: The company will continue to invest in R&D to enhance its autonomous driving technology, including cost reductions for the Gen-7 platform and advancements in AI algorithms for operational efficiency.

Financial Outlook: The company expects to sustain disciplined investment to accelerate large-scale commercial deployment and leverage the $800 million raised from its Hong Kong IPO to fuel growth.

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Shareholder Return Plan

The selected topic was not discussed during the call.

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Key Q&A

Q:Could the management team give an update on the fleet size for this year and the outlook for 2026, including the fleet deployment plan across different cities?

A:The company expects to exceed its previous target of 1,000 robotaxis by year-end and aims for over 3,000 vehicles by 2026. The growth is driven by the Gen-7 robotaxi launch, which has improved user experience and vehicle utilization. The company is also experimenting with an asset-light model by collaborating with fleet managers. Deployment will focus on deepening operations in Tier 1 cities in China and expanding into new domestic and international markets.

Q:What is the outlook for fare-charging revenues as more vehicles are deployed?

A:Fare-charging revenue grew by 233% in Q3, driven by demand and operational improvements. The company expects sustained growth as the fleet expands from 270 vehicles last year to over 1,000 this year and more than 3,000 next year. Operational improvements include shorter wait times, expanded service areas, and increased pickup/drop-off points. These factors are expected to boost average order value per trip.

Q:Could you elaborate on the assumptions behind the citywide unit economic breakeven, including daily order pricing, daily operating hours, and the ratio of remote assistance?

A:The citywide unit economic breakeven was achieved in Guangzhou with the Gen-7 vehicle. Daily net revenue per vehicle reached RMB 299, with an average of 23 orders per day. Costs include hardware depreciation (6-year useful life) and operational costs like charging, remote assistance, and maintenance. The company is on track to achieve a 1:30 remote assistance-to-vehicle ratio.

Q:What is your take on new entrants in the Level 4 autonomous driving space, and what are the main technical and operational challenges?

A:The company views new entrants as positive for the industry but notes significant hurdles in business, regulatory, and technical aspects. Challenges include user acquisition, fleet management, safety requirements, and obtaining licenses. The company leverages its early-mover advantage, brand awareness, and partnerships to maintain a competitive edge. Technically, the company uses reinforcement learning and world models to handle corner cases and improve operations.

Q:What are the main factors behind the faster expansion of operational areas, and how are large language models being used?

A:The company’s tech stack is built for generalization, enabling quick expansion into new areas without additional model training. Expansion speed is limited by fleet size to maintain density. Large language models are used for R&D, human-machine interaction, and rider feedback analysis but are not suitable for onboard driving due to safety and latency issues.

Q:Does management see potential for improving operating leverage through working with only one OEM instead of multiple OEMs?

A:The company collaborates with multiple OEMs to meet local preferences for branded vehicles, which facilitates faster market entry. While this poses technical challenges, it demonstrates the company’s ability to standardize technology and fit it into different vehicles, creating a competitive edge.

Q:Why doesn’t Pony use remote control or human takeover for robotaxi operations, and what is the technology difference?

A:The company uses remote assistance rather than remote control. Vehicles make independent decisions, with remote assistance providing high-level suggestions when requested. This ensures safe operation without dependence on network latency. The company aims to improve the remote-assist-to-vehicle ratio to 1:30 by year-end.

Q:What is Pony’s view on fully driverless robotaxi licenses in the Middle East, and what is the company’s overseas strategy?

A:The company focuses on markets with high growth potential, strong mobility demand, and supportive regulations. It evaluates market size, government openness, and local partner strength. Currently operating in 8 countries, the company added Qatar in Q3 and expects continued revenue growth from overseas markets.

Q:Review of Unclear Management Responses

A:None of the questions were avoided or lacked clarity. Management provided detailed and specific answers to all questions.

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Earnings Word Cloud

The most frequently occurring keywords in this quarter's earning call

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