Financial terms of the deal, which Dubai s crown prince is calling a first of its kind globally, were not disclosed.
Cruise expects to begin operating in the United Arab Emirates city in 2023. A company spokesman declined to say when self-driving vehicles are expected to be available to the public in Dubai. According to a press release announcing the plans, Cruise expects to operate a fleet of up to 4,000 self-driving vehicles in Dubai by 2030.
The agreement marks significant expansion plans for Cruise, which has been concentrating its self-driving vehicle testing in San Francisco. It has grown its registered testing fleet to more than 200 vehicles but hasn t yet announced when it plans to offer a robotaxi fleet to the public in San Francisco. It initially planned to do so in 2019.
GM-backed Cruise goes international with autonomous shuttles in Dubai
The Origin shuttle arrives in Dubai.
Image: cruise
2021-04-12 10:54:36 UTC
Dubaiâs Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed tweeted early Monday that the San Francisco-based autonomous vehicle company Cruise will supply the United Arab Emirates city s autonomous taxi shuttles.
Cruise was selected to operate its Origin ride-sharing shuttles in the UAE city as soon as 2023. By 2030, the city s Roads and Transport Authority plans to have 4,000 of the steering wheel-less electric pods that fit six passengers. Dubai will be the first international location for Cruise.
Cruise still plans on offering an autonomous taxi service in San Francisco, where it s been testing sensor-loaded Chevy Bolt EVs. General Motors is a major investor in Cruise.Â
The firm is backed by General Motors and Honda and will use its fully autonomous Origin vehicles, first unveiled in 2019, during the testing phase in Dubai from 2023.
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