Dubai orders 4,000 driverless taxis

[watty]

GM-Backed Cruise Will Run Driverless Taxis in Dubai in 2023 (Bloomberg)

Cruise LLC, the self-driving car unit backed and majority owned by General Motors Co., signed a deal with Dubai’s Roads and Transit Authority to begin operating self-driving taxis in the city in 2023.

Cruise and Crown Prince Hamdan Bin Mohammed announced the agreement in a statement, making the company the exclusive operator of these services in the largest United Arab Emirates city until 2029. The company will start running a small number or vehicles in two years and plans to have 4,000 driverless Origin shuttles in the emirate by 2030, said Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, chairman of the roads authority.

The agreement will give Cruise a presence in its first location outside the U.S. Cruise is working to get driverless services going as a revenue-generating business in San Francisco before the Dubai launch, probably using a self-driving version of GM’s Chevrolet Bolt electric car as an autonomous taxi. The company didn’t say when it will start charging for services.

GM fell less than 1% to $59.74 at 10:23 a.m. Monday in New York.

“The selection of Cruise was not taken lightly,” Al Tayer said in the statement, adding that the process spanned several years. “Self-driving vehicles will bring a fundamental shift in transportation and offer innovative solutions for mobility and congestion in the city.”

Cruise has been making moves in the past year to build out the company and start generating revenue. Last month, the company acquired autonomous-vehicle startup Voyage, which offers self-driving car services in retirement communities, for an undisclosed sum. The deal got Cruise 60 engineers and scientists and a preserve in Florida, where AV rules are less restrictive.

The company hired former Delta Air Lines Inc. executive Gil West as chief operating officer in January and cut a deal with Walmart Inc. to team up on driverless delivery of goods.

[Taxi driver42]

Great i might buy one myself

[silverbullet]

GM-Backed Cruise Will Run Driverless Taxis in Dubai in 2023 (Bloomberg)

Cruise LLC, the self-driving car unit backed and majority owned by General Motors Co., signed a deal with Dubai’s Roads and Transit Authority to begin operating self-driving taxis in the city in 2023.

Cruise and Crown Prince Hamdan Bin Mohammed announced the agreement in a statement, making the company the exclusive operator of these services in the largest United Arab Emirates city until 2029. The company will start running a small number or vehicles in two years and plans to have 4,000 driverless Origin shuttles in the emirate by 2030, said Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, chairman of the roads authority.

The agreement will give Cruise a presence in its first location outside the U.S. Cruise is working to get driverless services going as a revenue-generating business in San Francisco before the Dubai launch, probably using a self-driving version of GM’s Chevrolet Bolt electric car as an autonomous taxi. The company didn’t say when it will start charging for services.

GM fell less than 1% to $59.74 at 10:23 a.m. Monday in New York.

“The selection of Cruise was not taken lightly,” Al Tayer said in the statement, adding that the process spanned several years. “Self-driving vehicles will bring a fundamental shift in transportation and offer innovative solutions for mobility and congestion in the city.”

Cruise has been making moves in the past year to build out the company and start generating revenue. Last month, the company acquired autonomous-vehicle startup Voyage, which offers self-driving car services in retirement communities, for an undisclosed sum. The deal got Cruise 60 engineers and scientists and a preserve in Florida, where AV rules are less restrictive.

The company hired former Delta Air Lines Inc. executive Gil West as chief operating officer in January and cut a deal with Walmart Inc. to team up on driverless delivery of goods.

Have they considered potless customers without jobs?

[Rat Catcher]

Good idea... all the taxis in Dubai are driven by bleedin' immigrants...

[silverbullet]

There are 10,000 driverless taxis in Dublin and not a word, not...a..word!

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

Logistical and operational nightmare .

[Cool Boola]

Leo said its workable....over a period.

[Octavia1]

Remember that in dubai ideas imagine its a grid block system of roads an building bit like new york new city.... Only right angles...... Easy for them robots...... Plus Ther are no knackers in dubai to rob the robot cars an melt them down for the precious metals.an if Ther was knacker they be rightfully executed for antisocialism.... Poor cnuts ....

[Shallowhal]

Leo said its workable....over a period.

I'd say he knows loads about periods!!

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

Remember that in dubai ideas imagine its a grid block system of roads an building bit like new york new city.... Only right angles...... Easy for them robots...... Plus Ther are no knackers in dubai to rob the robot cars an melt them down for the precious metals.an if Ther was knacker they be rightfully executed for antisocialism.... Poor cnuts ....

Nowt to do with right angles or straight lines. 4,000 is unworkable . 4,000 will keep 1,000 on the road 24/7 if there`s 1,000 charging points available on demand. (on paper, real life not doable)

[Shallowhal]

WAV's for all!!

[silverbullet]

WAV's for all!!

The problem with electric cars is battery life:

Here's the King of Dubai:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GR3xaeE7oLc

[Shallowhal]

Ah Crimson Jihad....great bunch of lads!!

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

WAV's for all!!

Anybody.............?

[silverbullet]

WAV's for all!!

Anybody.............?

All back to diesel?