Pony.ai to start autonomous vehicle pilot trials in Dubai
DUBAI, 15 hours, 52 minutes ago
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has signed a MoU with Pony.ai, a leading company specialising in autonomous driving technologies, to commence pilot trials of autonomous vehicles in the emirate.
The trials are scheduled to begin later this year, paving the way for the launch of a fully driverless commercial service in 2026, said RTA in a statement.
Pony.ai had recently unveiled seventh generation of its autonomous vehicles jointly developed with major automotive manufacturers such as Toyota, GAC, and BAIC.
The company’s vehicles are equipped with advanced artificial intelligence algorithms, supported by a sophisticated suite of sensors, including lidars, radars, and cameras, to ensure precise navigation and safety across varying road and weather conditions.
The company has also established partnerships with leading technology firms such as Tencent and Alibaba to integrate robotaxi mobility services into platforms like WeChat and Alipay.
The MoU was signed by Ahmed Hashim Bahrozyan, CEO of Public Transport Agency at RTA, and Ann Shi, Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at Pony.ai, in the presence of Mattar Al Tayer, the Director General, Chairman of the RTA Board of Executive Directors, and Dr. Leo Wang, Chief Financial Officer of Pony.ai and several officials from both parties.
Al Tayer said this partnership would support Dubai’s ongoing efforts to adopt autonomous mobility solutions and reinforce its global leadership in future mobility.
He also expressed appreciation for the company’s decision to choose Dubai as its global platform for expanding operations beyond China.
"RTA’s continued expansion of partnerships with leading global companies in the field of autonomous mobility marks a key step towards achieving the Dubai Smart Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which aims to convert 25% of all trips in Dubai into autonomous journeys across various modes of transport by 2030," stated Al Tayer.
"It underscores RTA’s commitment to working closely with global technology leaders to advance the future of smart, efficient, and sustainable mobility," he added.
On the RTA partnership, Dr Wang said it exemplifies Pony.ai's commitment to deploying Level 4 autonomous technology in strategic global markets.
"By aligning our technological capabilities with RTA's visionary leadership, we're establishing foundational standards for intelligent transportation ecosystems across the Mena region," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
