Pony AI Inc (PONY) shares surged 5.31% in after-hours trading on Thursday, following a significant announcement regarding the company's autonomous driving operations. The stock's upward movement came shortly after Pony AI revealed it had secured a crucial license for its robotaxi services.

The autonomous driving technology company announced that it has received a license to provide fully driverless commercial robotaxi services in Shenzhen's Nanshan District. This license marks a major milestone for Pony AI, as it allows the company to operate its autonomous vehicles without human safety drivers in one of China's most innovative and tech-forward areas.

This development is likely to be viewed positively by investors, as it demonstrates Pony AI's technological progress and regulatory approval in the competitive autonomous driving market. The license could potentially accelerate the company's path to profitability and market expansion, as fully driverless operations typically lead to reduced operational costs and increased service availability. As Pony AI continues to advance its autonomous driving technology and expand its service areas, the market will be watching closely for the impact on the company's future growth and financial performance.