以下文章来源于Auto有范儿 ，作者周智宇 Auto有范儿 . 讲述独特的汽车故事。 2016年，当彭军与楼天城创立小马智行时，自动驾驶行业正陷入一场路线之争：特斯拉的渐进式路线（从L2逐步升级至L4）与Waymo的跨越式路线（直接攻 关L4）针锋相对。彭军他们选择了后者。 只是过去很长时间里，像Robotaxi这类跨越式路线的代表，商业化前景不明朗，让很多L4自动驾驶企业倒戈向了L2。相比L4相对较长的回报周期，渐进式路线 追求的是在各阶段实现商业价值，推动辅助驾驶逐步迭代至高级别驾驶。 小马智行也有过这样经受"诱惑"的时刻，2020年前后，行业遭遇资本寒冬，甚至连投资人都认为小马智行要转向探索L2++辅助驾驶。 小马智行联合创始人兼CEO彭军也将这个时期，视为他创业以来的最艰难的时刻之一。 当下的规模化冲刺，则是让彭军感到"最困难"的又一节点。无论是从法规还是市场接受度来说，Robotaxi离进入收获期还有一定距离。 在得到资本市场认可，于去年11月，小马智行登陆纳斯达克后，如今的小马智行正进入一个关键时期——经过了0-1，让运营车辆实现无人化上路，接下来的 小马智行要在1-10路上狂奔。规模化是它必须迈 ...

Core Viewpoint - The autonomous driving industry is at a critical juncture, with companies like Pony.ai firmly committed to the L4 route, distinguishing themselves from the increasingly competitive L2 market [6][8][9]. Group 1: Company Strategy and Development - Pony.ai was founded in 2016, choosing a leapfrog approach to L4 autonomous driving, contrasting with the gradual L2 upgrades pursued by others [6]. - The company faced significant challenges during the capital winter around 2020, leading to considerations of shifting focus to L2++ driving [4][5]. - After going public on NASDAQ, Pony.ai is now focused on scaling its operations and achieving mass production of its autonomous vehicles [6][10]. Group 2: Market Position and Competition - The L2 market is described as a "red ocean," indicating fierce competition, while L4 is seen as a "blue ocean" with greater potential for growth [8][9]. - Pony.ai's L4 strategy is based on a different set of goals compared to L2, necessitating distinct technological and cost requirements [9][17]. - The company has successfully reduced the cost of its seventh-generation Robotaxi by 70% compared to the previous generation, enhancing its competitive edge [6][29]. Group 3: Regulatory and Public Trust - Regulatory support is emerging in major cities like Beijing and Shanghai, which is crucial for the acceptance of autonomous vehicles [10][11]. - Building public trust is essential, with a focus on maintaining a lower accident rate than human drivers to alleviate regulatory concerns [11][43]. Group 4: Future Goals and Challenges - Pony.ai aims to establish a "supply-demand network" to enhance user experience and reduce wait times for rides, which is vital for commercial viability [12][46]. - The company targets a fleet of over 1,000 operational vehicles by the end of this year or early next year [44]. - Achieving operational profitability and scaling to tens of thousands of vehicles is projected to take at least 15 years [48]. Group 5: Technological and Operational Insights - The company emphasizes the importance of a systematic approach to optimize both technology and cost for L4 deployment [35][47]. - Pony.ai's operational strategy includes leveraging experiences from both the taxi and ride-hailing sectors to enhance its autonomous vehicle fleet management [49]. - The company is also exploring international markets, including partnerships in South Korea and the UAE, to expand its autonomous driving technology [52].