According to Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority, Cruise has sent two of its autonomous Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicles to Dubai to begin mapping the city in preparation for a planned launch in 2023, just a few weeks after the General Motors-backed AV company officially launched its commercial driverless operations in San Francisco (RTA).
Cruise signed a partnership agreement with the RTA in April to launch a robotaxi service in Dubai as part of UAE ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s vision to convert 25% of total transportation trips in Dubai to self-driving trips by 2030. Cruise was chosen as Dubai’s exclusive robotaxi provider until 2029 after a “comprehensive, multi-year process to select the best possible partner.”
