Company Directory › Robotics › Embodied AI & Robot Software › Pony.ai vs Preferred Networks
Pony.ai vs Preferred Networks
Pony.ai and Preferred Networks are both embodied ai & robot software companies. Their verified profiles differ on headquarters, country, industry focus, founding year, company size and markets served. The table below sets out only those rows; everything else is on each company's own profile. Facts verified 9 November 2026.
Where they differ
| Company | Pony.ai | Preferred Networks |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | — (not publicly disclosed; left blank rather than guessed) | Otemachi Building, 1-6-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan |
| Country | China (assignment country; founded in the United States, principal operations and deployments in China and internationally) | Japan |
| Industry | Platforms & Software — Embodied AI & Robot Software; autonomous driving systems for robotaxi, robotruck and passenger vehicles | Platforms & Software — Embodied AI & Robot Software; vertically integrated AI (chips, computing, foundation models, solutions) |
| Founded | 2016 | 26 March 2014 |
| Company size | — (not publicly disclosed; left blank rather than guessed) | Approx. 400 employees (company-stated in its official company factsheet, updated October 2025) |
| Markets served | Global; China (Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai and other cities), United States, Singapore, Europe (Luxembourg hub) and Middle East (Dubai, Qatar) per company milestones | Japan and global; transportation, manufacturing, life sciences and other industries (per company descriptions) |
How Pony.ai and Preferred Networks differ
Pony.ai is assigned to China, founded in the United States with principal operations in China and internationally, while Preferred Networks is Japanese. Founding dates differ: Pony.ai was founded in late 2016 in Fremont, California, while Preferred Networks was founded on 26 March 2014, company-stated in its factsheet. Pony.ai works in embodied AI and robot software through autonomous driving for robotaxi, robotruck and passenger vehicles. Preferred Networks works in the same category through vertically integrated AI: chips, computing, foundation models and solutions. Markets differ in footprint. Pony.ai serves China, including Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai, plus the United States, Singapore, Europe through a Luxembourg hub, and the Middle East including Dubai and Qatar. Preferred Networks serves Japan and global markets in transportation, manufacturing and life sciences. Public funding status separates them. Pony.ai is listed on Nasdaq as PONY from November 2024, with a Hong Kong listing in November 2025. Preferred Networks is private, with cumulative funding of approximately US$315M per PitchBook, while Japanese reports put total known funding at about 36 billion yen or more after a December 2024 round of 19 billion yen. Buyers evaluating autonomous driving should read Pony.ai; buyers evaluating integrated AI infrastructure should read Preferred Networks.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between Pony.ai and Preferred Networks?
Pony.ai is based in — (not publicly disclosed; left blank rather than guessed) and Preferred Networks in Otemachi Building, 1-6-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan; they also differ on country, industry focus, founding year, company size, markets served. The table above sets out both companies' entries row by row.
Are Pony.ai and Preferred Networks in the same country?
No. Pony.ai is based in — (not publicly disclosed; left blank rather than guessed) and Preferred Networks in Otemachi Building, 1-6-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Can one sourcing request reach both Pony.ai and Preferred Networks?
Yes. Pony.ai can be reached through pony.ai and Preferred Networks through preferred.jp, or post one sourcing request and let both answer if they fit.
Does GlobleMatch rank Pony.ai above Preferred Networks, or Preferred Networks above Pony.ai?
Neither. There is no pay-to-rank and no paid placement in comparisons; order and content come from verified profile facts only.
Run Pony.ai or Preferred Networks? Claim your free profile to keep your facts current.
Full profiles, with every fact and its source: Pony.ai and Preferred Networks. Profile facts last verified: Pony.ai on 9 November 2026, Preferred Networks on 10 November 2026.