Three Chinese companies—Baidu’s Apollo Go, WeRide, and Pony.ai—have received permits from Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to carry out autonomous driving trials on specific roads. This approval allows them to test their vehicles across urban Dubai.
“Utilizing the autonomous driving technologies and fleet management expertise of these companies, all necessary tests and operations will be conducted to ensure the vehicles seamlessly integrate with the city’s environment,” stated the RTA in a release to Khaleej Times on Friday.
“Collaborating with RTA, these companies aim to establish a global benchmark for smart mobility and enhance Dubai’s reputation as a leading autonomous city,” added the RTA.
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On Thursday, Khaleej Times was invited by RTA and Baidu to test Apollo Go’s RT6, Baidu’s sixth-generation autonomous taxi.
The trial began at the Jumeirah Mosque parking lot, covering a four-kilometre stretch on Jumeirah Road. The Apollo Go taxi reached speeds of up to 72 km/h and changed lanes effortlessly. This marks Apollo Go’s first operation outside China, where it has fully driverless operations in over 10 cities.
