The demand for autonomous vehicles is rapidly increasing and outstripping supply, according to Hasan Al Hosani, CEO of Smart Solutions, Space42.
“We launched our autonomous taxis between late 2020 and 2021. To date, they have covered over 600,000 kilometers in full four-mode autonomy. Although our capacity is limited, we’ve completed more than 20,000 trips. Presently, demand is thrice our operational capacity, reflecting the public’s enthusiasm for exploring autonomous, hands-free, or even driverless technology,” Al Hosani stated at the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week 2025 in the UAE capital on Monday.
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Level four autonomous driving features high automation, enabling vehicles to perform all driving tasks within a specific area without human intervention.
In a move led by Abu Dhabi, the UAE is vigorously advancing autonomous vehicles and other transport modes to alleviate traffic congestion.
On November 6, Space42 partnered with Autonomous A2Z, a leading South Korean autonomous driving firm, to propel autonomous vehicle technologies in the UAE.
Abu Dhabi aims for 25% of all trips to be autonomous by 2040, striving for a new transport model in the city.
During the panel discussion, Dr Abdulla Hamad AlGhfeli, Acting Director-General of the Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility), revealed that 50 autonomous vehicles have been licensed and will be visible around Abu Dhabi from next month.
“They have passed all tests and regulatory requirements, proving their safety. However, as a regulator, I must ensure they do not fail. If they fail, operations will be halted to rebuild public trust,” he noted.
He also mentioned that seven autonomous vehicles were recently deployed at the Adipec event in Abu Dhabi.
“A safety officer was present to reassure people of human oversight, though there was no interaction between the driver and the vehicle. The implementation and operations are in place,” he added.
