Tesla has agreed to sell a fleet of self-driving Model S sedans and Model X SUVs to be used as taxis in Dubai.
The government of the UAE has ordered 200 of vehicles with ‘fully self-driving-capability,’ Electrek reports.
The cars will be added to the Dubai Taxi Company’s limousine fleet as part of ambitious plans to convert 25% of the city’s traffic to autonomous by 2030.
There was no announcement on when Tesla will begin delivering the fleet, but the automotive pioneer has now started to deliver its electric cars in Dubai.
Related: Is the Tesla Model S the ultimate rental car?
These vehicles will ship with the Autopilot driver assist functionality, but the cars are primed for a future update that would enable full autonomy.
That update, of course, would require regulatory approval in the requisite nations.
During this week’s announcement, Tesla CEO Elon Musk also pledged to invest “tens of millions of dollars” in charging and service infrastructure.
The Tesla deal ties into the UAE’s plans to “transform Dubai into the world’s smartest city.”
Would you trust Tesla’s Autopilot to keep you safe? Drop your thoughts in the comments.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
