Hailing a taxi ride without a driver behind the wheel sounds futuristic, but that future is now on its way to Dubai. Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has confirmed it will begin testing 50 autonomous taxis in the coming months, the first step toward launching driverless ride-hailing services by 2026.
The announcement follows a new partnership between RTA and Apollo Go, Baidu’s autonomous ride-hailing service, marking the Chinese company’s first international expansion outside China and Hong Kong.
The trial will use Apollo Go’s sixth-generation RT6 vehicles, packed with 40 built-in sensors and detectors to ensure high-level automation and safety. These taxis have already been tested on a massive scale, with over 150 million kilometres of safe driving and 10 million autonomous trips having been completed in China.
Here’s what you need to know:
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Initial testing will start with 50 vehicles, collecting data and operating under close supervision.
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The goal is to gradually expand the fleet to 1,000 driverless taxis over the next three years.
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By 2030, Dubai aims to make 25% of all trips across the city autonomous, as part of its Smart Self-Driving Transport Strategy.
His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, said this move supports Dubai’s ambition to be a global leader in futuristic transport, including air taxis and autonomous marine transport. Earlier this month, Uber and WeRide had announced a collaboration with RTA to start trials for autonomous taxis. For more details, check Connector's story HERE.