Dubai is on track to launch a fleet of self-driving taxis later this year, following extensive testing of five Cruise-owned Chevrolet Bolts in the Jumeirah 1 area of the city. The vehicles have been busy collecting data on Dubaiās roads, familiarising themselves with signage, traffic signals and driversā behaviour, in preparation for the launch of the ride-hail service. A small fleet of robotaxis will be available to hire in the Jumeirah area by the end of the year. The vehicles will initially cover almost five miles of roads, with plans to expand the service further.
Cruise, a subsidiary of General Motors, is also testing in Tochigi, Japan in partnership with Honda, where the latter hopes to launch a Mobility as a Service business using a version of Cruiseās Origin.
See also: GM’s Cruise Reaches One Million Miles with Fully Driverless Vehicles
Dubaiās vision to accelerate the rollout of autonomous vehicles is driven by a desire to alleviate traffic congestion, reduce traffic accidents and lower harmful emissions. The successful launch of the self-driving taxi service is seen as a key milestone in the cityās quest for excellence in smart mobility and advanced technology.
#RTA and Cruise, a self-driving technology company, initiated data collection and testing technology for Dubaiās traffic signals, signage, and driversā behaviour among other attributes using five Chevy Bolt-based autonomous vehicles in Jumeirah 1 area.https://t.co/6pqh6VIL3f pic.twitter.com/YSTyrAwmXS
— RTA (@rta_dubai) April 5, 2023
According to the CEO of the Public Transport Agency at RTA, Ahmed Hashem Bahrozyan, the work currently being carried out is critical for the successful launch of the service. āData collection and testing is a crucial phase in Dubaiās quest for excellence in smart mobility and advanced technology,ā he said. āThe work being done will ensure Cruiseās advanced generalizable AI and autonomous driving systems safely adapt to Dubai traffic conditions.”
See also: Dubai Sets Goal for 100% Electrified Taxi Fleet by 2027
Although pricing for the service has yet to be confirmed, it is expected to be similar to that of limousine taxis in Dubai, which are typically around 30% more expensive than regular cabs. The ultimate aim is for there to be 4,000 driverless cabs deployed in Dubai by 2030, with more robotaxis set to join the service in 2024.
Dubai will become the first city outside of the United States to commercialize Cruiseās self-driving cars, and is expected to pave the way for the adoption of autonomous vehicles in other cities around the world.
