- Successful trials in Dubai South
- Evocargo plans UAE launch next year
- Expects expansion into Saudi Arabia
Self-driving vehicles are to be rolled out across the UAE following successful trials in Dubai South.
Evocargo, a Russian company that has its headquarters in Dubai, ran the tests and is confident that autonomous vehicles will be available within Dubai South in the first quarter of next year.
The company then plans to expand into neighbouring Ras Al Khaimah and across wider Dubai.
A spokesperson for the company also confirmed proposals to “explore Saudi Arabia” as its next phase of growth after “positive demand”.
“The trials aim to attract new customers and investments in the GCC countries,” Ahmed Al-Ansi, CEO of Evocargo Autonomous Logistic Services, said.
The testing was carried out on a set route in a closed area of the logistics district in Dubai South with the Evocargo N1 unmanned electric truck.
This included parking, reverse parking, turning and reverse turning as well as interacting with other vehicles and pedestrians. In a further trial the autonomous vehicle carried out freight transportation tasks on the closed route.
No failures or potentially hazardous incidents were reported.
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Mohsen Ahmad, CEO of the Logistics District, Dubai South, said: “As we look to the future, autonomous vehicles will play a pivotal role in revolutionising the industry, enhancing efficiency and reducing the overall carbon footprint to create a sustainable and technologically advanced logistics infrastructure that will benefit Dubai and the UAE.”
Dubai aims to transform 25 percent of total transportation in the emirate to autonomous by 2030.
In October last year Abu Dhabi revealed plans to establish a centre for smart and autonomous vehicle industries.
The UAE cabinet in July 2023 granted the first preliminary national licence for self-driving cars to China-based WeRide to test a range of autonomous vehicles on local roads.