Pony.ai, a self-driving focused automotive startup, has launched its ride-hailing operations publicly in Nansha, Guangzhou in China.

Based in Fremont, California, Nansha District of Guangzhou is the location of the company’s Chinese headquarters.

Three months prior to releasing the service to the public, Pony.ai ran a test run from the Nansha municipal government building to the city’s civic square, the location of the Nansha Lantern Festival, TechCrunch reported.

The self-driving vehicles will begin covering bigger areas as they prove ability and gain experience in terms of navigational features. Since the startup’s founding in 2016, Pony.ai has accumulated 6 testing vehicles for its fleet.

Four Lincoln MKZs and two Guangzhou Automobile Group Chuanquis make up the test vehicles, which work through and navigate a two-mile area. Pony.ai is the first of its kind, releasing a self-driving hailing service to the Chinese public.

Testing of the vehicles included situations of weather and traffic. The company intends to expand the area of operations for the vehicles in the city.

Last month, Pony.ai raised $112 million in a Series A round led by Morningside Venture Capital and Legend Capital. Funds from the round were put toward the autonomous pilot service. The company has also collaborated with Guangzhou Automobile Group.

(Picture courtesy: SiliconANGLE)