British autonomous technology developer Oxa has entered into a strategic partnership with Abu Dhabi-based Bayanat, aiming to bolster the capabilities of its self-driving vehicles through the integration of advanced AI-powered geospatial analytics tools.
Bayanat, known for its prior work on self-driving taxis in the United Arab Emirates in collaboration with Chinese autonomous tech firm WeRide, is now set to leverage its expertise to enhance Oxa’s autonomous vehicle (AV) software. The partnership seeks to develop smart city solutions and autonomous transportation systems, with a focus on integrating Bayanat’s geospatial data solutions into Oxa’s AV software to advance its capabilities.
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Additionally, the collaboration will see the establishment of an Autonomous Mobility Center of Excellence, aimed at nurturing local talent in software, hardware, and data science. This initiative is supported by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) as part of its Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries (SAVI) Cluster, which aims to position Abu Dhabi as a hub for smart and autonomous vehicles across various domains.
Gavin Jackson, CEO of Oxa, expressed optimism about the partnership’s potential to drive the adoption of autonomy across multiple use cases. “Using the knowledge gained from our existing commercial deployments in the U.S. and Bayanat’s technical capabilities and deep relationships throughout the Gulf Cooperation Council, we expect to accelerate the adoption of autonomy across multiple use cases,” he stated. Jackson also highlighted the region’s strong technical talent pool, fostered by institutions like the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence and SAVI, which will aid in further developing Oxa’s engineering capabilities, including at its planned base in Abu Dhabi.
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Hasan Al Hosani, Managing Director of Bayanat, emphasized the collaboration’s significance in revolutionizing transportation and smart city solutions. “By combining our expertise in geospatial analytics and operational capabilities in autonomous vehicles with Oxa’s leadership in autonomous vehicle technology, we are poised to create groundbreaking solutions that will enhance mobility, safety, and efficiency in urban areas,” Al Hosani stated.
The agreement between Oxa and Bayanat was formalized during a visit by Bayanat executives to Oxa’s headquarters in Oxford, England.
While Oxa, formerly known as Oxbotica, continues its efforts in the Middle East, the company is also actively engaged in developing autonomous passenger vehicles for public transport operators in the U.S. and Europe.
