Tesla Delivers First 50 Of 200 Model S & Model X Vehicles To UAE For Use As Taxis, Eventually Autonomous Taxis

September 21st, 2017 by James Ayre

Tesla has now delivered the first 50 of the 200 Model S sedans and Model X SUVs that were ordered as part of a deal with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that is intended to eventually lead to the deployment of an autonomous taxi fleet, as we reported a couple of months back.

While the Tesla Model S and Model X units delivered as part of this first batch aren’t yet capable of fully autonomous functioning, they are outfitted with a tech/sensor suite that will allow for such capability once the software solutions necessary are fully developed — as all Tesla vehicles now being manufactured are.

Ahmed bin Saeed marks official deployment of 50 Tesla electric vehicles to #Dubai Taxi Corporation fleet pic.twitter.com/ArpdMhLrAH — Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) September 17, 2017

Futurism provides more: “According to Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA): Tesla vehicles procured by the RTA of Models (S) and (X) are equipped with the hardware needed for full self-driving capability 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 highway driving more enjoyable by reducing the driver’s workload.”

That will probably be appreciated by the taxi drivers using the vehicles. Though, it’s an open question how long these drivers will keep their jobs as self-driving tech develops, so perhaps the appreciation will be limited.

Presumably, though, even after fully autonomous travel is possible in these Tesla vehicles, there will be those who prefer a human driver, so perhaps I’m overstating things here.











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