Possibilities for Applying the Pony.ai Model in the Republic of Serbia: The Potential Development of an AI Data and Testing Hub

Abstract

This paper examines the possibilities of applying elements of the business and development model of Pony.ai in the context of the Republic of Serbia, with a particular focus on the development of an AI data and testing hub as an alternative development pathway. Starting from the fact that Serbia no longer possesses a developed automotive manufacturing industry, the analysis focuses on those components of the Pony.ai model related to data collection and processing, testing and validation of artificial intelligence–based systems, as well as the role of the institutional and regulatory framework in enabling such activities. The study adopts a qualitative research approach based on the analysis of relevant academic literature, international reports, and regulatory frameworks, complemented by a case study of Pony.ai as a representative example of an AI-intensive model. Special attention is given to the economic and institutional characteristics of the Republic of Serbia, as well as to the barriers arising from regulatory complexity, limited access to capital, data availability, and integration into international AI ecosystems. The findings indicate that the transfer of elements of the Pony.ai model does not imply a direct replication of an industrial approach, but rather a selective and adapted application through the development of AI data and testing activities compatible with Serbia’s existing economic and institutional capacities.