GM subsidiary Cruise plans to start using self-driving taxis in Dubai by 2029

GM subsidiary Cruise plans to start using self-driving taxis in Dubai by 2029

20. April 2021 0 Von Horst Buchwald

GM subsidiary Cruise plans to start using self-driving taxis in Dubai by 2029

New York, April 20, 2021

General Motors‘ Cruise autonomous vehicle unit has partnered with the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority to become the sole provider of self-driving taxis and ride-hailing services by 2029. Cruise will begin operations in 2023 and plans to have 4,000 working vehicles in its fleet by 2030. It will create a new company based in Dubai.

Cruise’s ride-hailing service will utilize the fully autonomous, fully electric Origin vehicle. The Origin is designed like a shuttle, has no steering wheels or pedals, and can reach highway speeds.

Cruise tested its autonomous vehicle technology in Chevy Bolt electric vehicles in San Francisco. It planned to start a ride-hailing service in San Francisco by 2019 but was unable to meet the deadline and has not yet set a new date. Dubai aims to cut transportation costs by 25% and ensure that 25% of all trips in the city will be made by self-driving vehicles by 2030.

Financial details were not disclosed, but it is the first of its kind according to Dubai’s Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan. GM acquired Cruise for $ 1 billion in 2016. The company has received $ 9.25 billion from investors such as Honda, Softbank, and Microsoft and is valued at $ 30 billion.