Arrival of 50 Teslas charges up Dubai’s taxi fleet
The next time someone hails a taxi in Dubai, they could be getting into a Tesla after 50 of the all-electric cars were added to Dubai Taxi Corporation’s limo fleet yesterday.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, chairman of Dubai Airports and chairman and chief executive of Emirates airline, launched the fleet, which includes two models, S from the sedan range and X from the SUVs, and are capable of self-driving.
The Roads and Transport Authority ordered 200 vehicles from Tesla in February at the World Government Summit.
Seventy-five vehicles will be delivered next year with the remaining 75 to follow in 2019.
“Dubai Taxi Corporation has co-ordinated with the concerned parties to provide the infrastructure to ensure the operation of these vehicles, including 13 electric recharging stations,” said Mattar Al Tayer, director general and chairman of the board of executive directors of the RTA.
He said the Model S had the greatest possible safety rating at the time of launch and is able to cover the longest distance of all electric vehicles.
“Model X ... is fitted with falcon wing doors, panoramic windshield, a seven-seat configuration that provides unprecedented comfort, and manoeuvrability,” Mr Tayer said. Both are capable of self-driving “at a safety level greater than that of a human driver”.
Tesla’s Autopilot is designed as a hands-on experience to give drivers more confidence behind the wheel, increase their safety on the road, and make motorway driving more enjoyable by reducing the driver’s workload, Mr Al Tayer said.
The cars will contribute to the goal of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, to transformDubai into the world’s smartest city.
It is also in line with the Green Economy for Sustainable Development Initiative and Dubai Smart Autonomous Mobility Strategy aimed at converting 25 per cent of journeys into driverless journeys by 2030.