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TimesLIVE
a day ago
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
Chinese robotaxi makers head to a welcoming Gulf as overseas ambitions grow
If you're a Chinese robotaxi company, the Gulf has become the place to be, attractive for a regulatory environment that is embracing the technology and robust demand for ride-hailing services. Their enthusiasm has been evident in a flurry of recently announced expansion plans. This week, became the third Chinese robotaxi company after rivals Baidu and WeRide to unveil an agreement with Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority in the United Arab Emirates. It plans to start trialling its vehicles in the city this year with full driverless operations slated to start in 2026. WeRide also said this week it would be expanding into Saudi Arabia, where it has been testing its vehicles in cities like Riyadh, adding that it expects commercial services to start in late 2025. That follows its launch of fully driverless robotaxi trials in the UAE's Abu Dhabi this month with commercial rides due to be rolled out from the end of June. It also soon plans to launch in Dubai. Baidu outlined plans in March to deploy 'dozens' of robotaxis in partnership with UAE-based Autogo in Abu Dhabi with a goal to start commercial operations by 2026. It also aims to start trials in Dubai this year. The UAE 'is relatively open but they are also careful and pragmatic on details,' said Zhang Liang, a general manager in Baidu's autonomous driving unit Apollo, who oversees European and the Middle East markets. 'We are actually happy to see positive and active competition and we won't be afraid of such competition,' he said at the World New Energy Vehicle Congress in Abu Dhabi last week. Worried about worsening traffic congestion and a shortage of taxi and ride-hailing services that largely rely on migrant workers for their drivers, Dubai has set a goal of having 25% of its daily transportation be smart and driverless by 2030. Abu Dhabi's target is 25% of total trips by 2040 while Saudi Arabia is aiming for 15% by 2030. 'Middle East and this kind of market, they already have the infrastructure, they have the capital, they have the ambition, which is very important. So that's why everybody is queuing up here,' said Thaha Muhammed Abdul Kareem, a Qatar-based independent consultant. Both and WeRide have partnered with Uber in the region so their vehicles can be ordered through the Uber app.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Chinese robotaxi makers head to a welcoming Gulf as overseas ambitions grow
ABU DHABI (Reuters) - If you're a Chinese robotaxi company, the Gulf has become the place to be, attractive for a regulatory environment that is embracing the technology and robust demand for ride-hailing services. Their enthusiasm has been evident in a flurry of recently announced expansion plans. This week, became the third Chinese robotaxi company after rivals Baidu and WeRide to unveil an agreement with Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority in the United Arab Emirates. It plans to start trialling its vehicles in the city this year with full driverless operations slated to start in 2026. WeRide also said this week it would be expanding into Saudi Arabia, where it has been testing its vehicles in cities like Riyadh, adding that it expects commercial services to start in late 2025. That follows its launch of fully driverless robotaxi trials in the UAE's Abu Dhabi this month with commercial rides due to be rolled out from the end of June. It also soon plans to launch in Dubai. Baidu outlined plans in March to deploy "dozens" of robotaxis in partnership with UAE-based Autogo in Abu Dhabi with a goal to start commercial operations by 2026. It also aims to start trials in Dubai this year. The UAE "is relatively open but they are also careful and pragmatic on details," said Zhang Liang, a general manager in Baidu's autonomous driving unit Apollo, who oversees European and the Middle East markets. "We are actually happy to see positive and active competition and we won't be afraid of such competition," he said at the World New Energy Vehicle Congress in Abu Dhabi last week. Worried about worsening traffic congestion and a shortage of taxi and ride-hailing services that largely rely on migrant workers for their drivers, Dubai has set a goal of having 25% of its daily transportation be smart and driverless by 2030. Abu Dhabi's target is 25% of total trips by 2040 while Saudi Arabia is aiming for 15% by 2030. "Middle East and this kind of market, they already have the infrastructure, they have the capital, they have the ambition, which is very important. So that's why everybody is queuing up here," said Thaha Muhammed Abdul Kareem, a Qatar-based independent consultant. Both and WeRide have partnered with Uber in the region so their vehicles can be ordered through the Uber app. FUTURE US-CHINA BATTLEGROUND? The Gulf may become the region where Chinese and U.S. robotaxis go head to head for the first time. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said during a Gulf tour with U.S. President Donald Trump this month that he would take Cybercab robotaxis to Saudi Arabia, although he didn't mention a timeframe. At present, however, Waymo is the only U.S. firm to run uncrewed robotaxi services carrying paying passengers. Tesla plans to launch a trial in Austin, Texas by the end of June, aiming to scale up to about a thousand vehicles within a few months. Its Chinese rivals have more experience. Baidu's Zhang said the company was confident it could do well abroad, citing how its vehicles had completed 10 million trips in China as of March without a serious traffic accident. The search engine giant has been running its Apollo Go robotaxi services commercially in several Chinese cities since 2022. The vehicles have so-called 4 autonomy - which means they are driverless but can travel only in certain areas. Those areas can, however, be quite large with the city of Wuhan, for example, making more than 3,000 km of public roads available for robotaxi use. "This year marks the first year for Apollo to go abroad officially," Zhang said. The company plans to make forays into Europe and Southeast Asia, he added without providing a timeframe. which has a fleet of 300 robotaxis in China, said long term it hopes to integrate its robotaxis with Dubai's metro and tram routes. Backed by Japan's Toyota, sees this year as its inaugural year for large-scale commercial deployment and aims to ramp up its fleet globally to thousands of vehicles in the next two years. It also has test permits in the United States, South Korea and Luxembourg. WeRide said it has begun "public operation" of its robotaxi GXR minivan in several Chinese cities as well as Zurich and Abu Dhabi. It partnered with Uber in May to expand into 15 cities in the next five years and says that in addition to the Middle East, Singapore, Japan and Europe face driver shortages in the transportation sector, making them key target markets. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Chinese robotaxi makers head to a welcoming Gulf as overseas ambitions grow
ABU DHABI (Reuters) - If you're a Chinese robotaxi company, the Gulf has become the place to be, attractive for a regulatory environment that is embracing the technology and robust demand for ride-hailing services. Their enthusiasm has been evident in a flurry of recently announced expansion plans. This week, became the third Chinese robotaxi company after rivals Baidu and WeRide to unveil an agreement with Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority in the United Arab Emirates. It plans to start trialling its vehicles in the city this year with full driverless operations slated to start in 2026. WeRide also said this week it would be expanding into Saudi Arabia, where it has been testing its vehicles in cities like Riyadh, adding that it expects commercial services to start in late 2025. That follows its launch of fully driverless robotaxi trials in the UAE's Abu Dhabi this month with commercial rides due to be rolled out from the end of June. It also soon plans to launch in Dubai. Baidu outlined plans in March to deploy "dozens" of robotaxis in partnership with UAE-based Autogo in Abu Dhabi with a goal to start commercial operations by 2026. It also aims to start trials in Dubai this year. The UAE "is relatively open but they are also careful and pragmatic on details," said Zhang Liang, a general manager in Baidu's autonomous driving unit Apollo, who oversees European and the Middle East markets. "We are actually happy to see positive and active competition and we won't be afraid of such competition," he said at the World New Energy Vehicle Congress in Abu Dhabi last week. Worried about worsening traffic congestion and a shortage of taxi and ride-hailing services that largely rely on migrant workers for their drivers, Dubai has set a goal of having 25% of its daily transportation be smart and driverless by 2030. Abu Dhabi's target is 25% of total trips by 2040 while Saudi Arabia is aiming for 15% by 2030. "Middle East and this kind of market, they already have the infrastructure, they have the capital, they have the ambition, which is very important. So that's why everybody is queuing up here," said Thaha Muhammed Abdul Kareem, a Qatar-based independent consultant. Both and WeRide have partnered with Uber in the region so their vehicles can be ordered through the Uber app. FUTURE US-CHINA BATTLEGROUND? The Gulf may become the region where Chinese and U.S. robotaxis go head to head for the first time. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said during a Gulf tour with U.S. President Donald Trump this month that he would take Cybercab robotaxis to Saudi Arabia, although he didn't mention a timeframe. At present, however, Waymo is the only U.S. firm to run uncrewed robotaxi services carrying paying passengers. Tesla plans to launch a trial in Austin, Texas by the end of June, aiming to scale up to about a thousand vehicles within a few months. Its Chinese rivals have more experience. Baidu's Zhang said the company was confident it could do well abroad, citing how its vehicles had completed 10 million trips in China as of March without a serious traffic accident. The search engine giant has been running its Apollo Go robotaxi services commercially in several Chinese cities since 2022. The vehicles have so-called 4 autonomy - which means they are driverless but can travel only in certain areas. Those areas can, however, be quite large with the city of Wuhan, for example, making more than 3,000 km of public roads available for robotaxi use. "This year marks the first year for Apollo to go abroad officially," Zhang said. The company plans to make forays into Europe and Southeast Asia, he added without providing a timeframe. which has a fleet of 300 robotaxis in China, said long term it hopes to integrate its robotaxis with Dubai's metro and tram routes. Backed by Japan's Toyota, sees this year as its inaugural year for large-scale commercial deployment and aims to ramp up its fleet globally to thousands of vehicles in the next two years. It also has test permits in the United States, South Korea and Luxembourg. WeRide said it has begun "public operation" of its robotaxi GXR minivan in several Chinese cities as well as Zurich and Abu Dhabi. It partnered with Uber in May to expand into 15 cities in the next five years and says that in addition to the Middle East, Singapore, Japan and Europe face driver shortages in the transportation sector, making them key target markets. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Pony.ai to deploy robotaxi fleet in Dubai by 2025
has entered a strategic partnership with Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to bring its advanced robotaxi fleet to the region, marking a significant step in the company's global expansion efforts. This collaboration is in line with Dubai's 2030 Smart City Vision, which aims to convert 25% of the city's transportation to autonomous mode by the end of the decade. The phased rollout will commence with supervised trials in 2025, progressing to fully driverless operations by 2026. The autonomous mobility solutions provider, is set to begin mass production of its seventh-generation robotaxis in the latter half of 2025. The company's ambitious plan includes scaling up its fleet to thousands of vehicles worldwide within the next two years, with 2025 earmarked as the year for large-scale commercial deployment. said, this timeline is supported by advancements in technology, vehicle engineering, and operational preparedness. At Auto Shanghai 2025, showcased its seventh-generation autonomous driving system, which is designed to handle complex driving scenarios. The system's hardware suite has achieved a significant cost reduction and meets the highest automotive-grade standards. Its sensor array is capable of navigating both high-speed highways and crowded urban areas like those in Dubai's business districts. The platform's design allows for quick adaptation to various vehicle models, the company said. In collaboration with industry giants such as Toyota, GAC Motor, and BAIC Motor, is preparing for the mass deployment of its robotaxis following their successful introduction in Shanghai earlier this year. In China, operates a fleet of approximately 300 robotaxis, providing fully driverless ride-hailing services in major cities and demonstrating the scalability of its solutions. Looking ahead, plans to integrate its robotaxi services with Dubai's multimodal transport network, which includes metro, tram, and maritime routes. The goal is to complement the existing infrastructure, facilitate seamless travel, and contribute to reducing the city's carbon emissions. With testing permits in the US, China, South Korea, and Luxembourg, and now the partnership with Dubai, continues to extend its global reach and establish its presence in the Middle East. " to deploy robotaxi fleet in Dubai by 2025" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Pony AI Gears up to Launch Robotaxi in the UAE
Pony AI Inc. (NASDAQ:PONY) has achieved a significant milestone in its push for growth in the Middle East as part of its global expansion plan. On May 27, the company inked a strategic collaboration with Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority. The agreement paves the way for the company to deploy its advanced robotaxi fleet in the United Arab Emirates. A high-tech manufacturing plant bustling with robotic arms producing auto parts. Dubai has set ambitious goals under its 2030 Smart City Vision, aiming to transition 25% of all journeys to autonomous vehicles by 2030. Through this partnership, will introduce its cutting-edge autonomous driving technology to the city in a multi-phase rollout, beginning with supervised trials in 2025 and progressing to full driverless operations in 2026. intends to integrate its robotaxi services with Dubai's transport network, which currently includes metro, tram, and maritime routes. Its robotaxis are designed to complement existing infrastructure to enable smoother journeys and reduce carbon footprint. As a pioneer in autonomous mobility, is gearing up to mass-produce and deploy its seventh-generation robotaxis starting in the second half of 2025. The company's state-of-the-art autonomous driving system, recently showcased at Auto Shanghai 2025, features a highly advanced AD kit hardware suite that achieves a 70% reduction in production costs while maintaining automotive-grade quality. While focus is on launching autonomous taxis in the United Arab Emirates, also plans to ramp up its robotaxi globally within the next two years. The company has already secured permits to launch in four major markets: the US, China, South Korea, and Luxembourg. Technological maturity, operational readiness, and advanced vehicle engineering support the accelerated rollout globally. Pony AI is a leader in autonomous driving, combining AI and mobility solutions to revolutionize transport. Operating driverless robotaxis and autonomous trucks, the company has established a strong market presence in China and the U.S., advancing self-driving technology for urban and logistics applications. While we acknowledge the potential of Pony AI Inc. (NASDAQ:PONY) as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than PONY and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: and . Disclosure: None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
