Dubai Takes Delivery Of Tesla Model S And Model X Taxis

TopSpeed

By Kirby Garlitos

Published Sep 20, 2017

This is what an abundance of riches look like

Just in case Dubai’s propensity for excess isn’t clear enough already, the Middle Eastern country is doing a bang-up job of living up to that reputation. No, nobody bought a new one-off supercar. Affluent folks from that area have more than enough of those cars in their garages as it is. There is a purchase to report though, and it comes by way of Dubai’s main taxi company, the Dubai Taxi Corporation, which has taken delivery of 50 Tesla Model S and Model X vehicles, all of which are set to be used as part of a massive autonomous taxi fleet in the future.

Yes, whereas I’m stuck with Toyota Corolla taxis from where I’m from, Dubai has Model S and Model X taxis that are waiting to be served up to the public. All in all, 200 Model S and Model X units are headed to the oil-rich nation where they will arrive in batches – 50 this year, 75 in 2018, and 75 in 2019. All 200 models are expected to spearhead the government’s plan to turn the country into a leader in the self-driving taxi space, a goal that’s becoming more and more within reach considering how aggressively the country’s leaders are pushing for it.

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This is actually part of an agreement Tesla reached with the Dubai Taxi Corporation earlier this year

The arrival of all the Tesla Model S and Model X units in Dubai may have caught a stir from those who weren’t expecting it, but this had actually been planned a while back in an agreement that was struck between Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority and no less than Tesla CEO himself, Elon Musk.

For those who need a refresher, the two sides came to terms on a deal as part of the Dubai Future Foundation’s goal of making 25 percent of car trips in the country autonomous by 2030. Incidentally, that agreement was signed the same day Tesla began selling its electric cars in Dubai, the first foray for the electric car brand in the thriving Middle Eastern market.

Included in the deal is the requirement that all Tesla models be equipped with hardware that allows for full autonomy, provided that Tesla develops the software that can achieve it. For now, the new Tesla taxis will be based at the country’s international airport with drivers behind the wheel, though Autopilot capabilities will be enabled when the cars hit city streets. As for how much the fares are going to be, that’s another question that will be answered soon.