CaoCao has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with K2, an artificial intelligence company owned by the Abu Dhabi government, to deploy its first robotaxi fleet in the United Arab Emirates.
The companies will begin testing and validation activities in Abu Dhabi later this year, marking a significant step in CaoCao’s expansion into the Middle East.
Under the agreement, K2 will provide testing environments, operational infrastructure, and access to its local mobility ecosystem. CaoCao will contribute purpose-built autonomous vehicles, technical expertise, and training for local operators.
Abu Dhabi Becomes Regional Expansion Hub
The latest partnership builds on CaoCao’s earlier cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office and further establishes Abu Dhabi as the company’s regional base for autonomous mobility development.
The companies also said they intend to explore additional opportunities to collaborate on autonomous driving projects in other international markets.
The UAE deployment is expected to become one of the first overseas milestones for CaoCao’s broader autonomous vehicle strategy.
Part of Geely’s RoboX Strategy
CaoCao serves as the commercial deployment platform for Geely Holding Group’s RoboX programme, which aims to place 100,000 robotaxis and 100,000 Robovans into operation globally by 2030.
The company’s first purpose-built robotaxi is scheduled to enter mass production in 2027, with the UAE project expected to support the early international rollout of the platform.
Government Partnership Supports Deployment
The collaboration gives CaoCao access to government-backed testing infrastructure and operational support as it prepares for commercial autonomous mobility services in the region.
The agreement also reflects Abu Dhabi’s growing position as a testing ground for autonomous driving technologies. Several autonomous vehicle developers have selected the emirate for commercial pilot programmes, supported by regulatory initiatives and public-sector partnerships designed to accelerate deployment.
The announcement follows CaoCao’s recent international expansion efforts, including a partnership with May Mobility in Europe, as the company continues to advance the global rollout of Geely’s RoboX autonomous mobility strategy.