Expo 2020 is taking commute one notch further with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) trialling autonomous vehicles made for taking people from the venue to staff offices.

Dubai testing autonomous vehicles at Expo 2020 site

Truth be told, we’re quite literally into the future. If you’re anything like us who joked around predicting the world would have self-driving automobiles s in 2020, it’s almost a reality. For three months, the RTA will be experimenting and conducting test runs with driverless vehicles set to transport people from the venue to staff offices. By June, you could probably spot the vehicles being used for daily commute at the Expo 2020 site.

RTA has started the trial run of an autonomous vehicle at the site of Expo 2020 Dubai. The vehicle is used to commute individuals on a dedicated path from the main entrance to staff offices. pic.twitter.com/hjh3gU5taB — RTA (@rta_dubai) March 18, 2020

“The trial run, which will last for three months, includes testing autonomous technologies, ensuring the safety of individuals, and protecting surrounding properties. It illustrates the RTA’s keenness to adopt highly efficient, safe and reliable technologies in delivering smart services.” Ahmed Bahrozyan, CEO of Public Transport Agency, RTA

Autonomous vehicles in line with Dubai 2030 vision

In line with the Dubai Self-Driving Transport Strategy, the RTA aims to have 20% of its total motors to be autonomous. A lot of groundbreaking vehicles have been launched under the initiative, including the driverless taxi tested at Dubai Silicon Oasis, futuristic sky-pods rolling out in Downtown in the near future, and Etisalat’s wow-worthy flying car introduced at GITEX in 2018.

“The Self-Driving Transport Strategy is part of initiatives aimed at supporting the green economy drive. Trialling an autonomous vehicle at the site of the Expo is an achievement and addition to our efforts to introduce autonomous vehicles at Dubai’s various hotspots” Ahmed Bahrozyan, CEO of Public Transport Agency, RTA

Expo 2020 begins this October

Despite the pandemic Coronavirus leading to a halt in tourist and resident visas, event cancellations and flight cancellations, an Expo 2020 spokesperson said it won’t stop the mega event from taking place, claiming its development is “on track.”

“As we continue to prepare for this event, we will be adjusting planned preparations, as changing circumstances require. Expo 2020 is not due to open until late October and we continue on track.” Expo 2020 spokesperson

(Featured photograph credit: RTA)