- Tests in ‘real-world environments’
- Vehicles will be equipped with a safety officer
- 15% target for public transportation
Saudi Arabia has revealed plans for trial runs of autonomous vehicles in Riyadh.
The initial stage will see them functioning in actual environments at King Khalid International Airport and different spots throughout Riyadh, such as on highways and in the downtown area, according to the state-owned Saudi Press Agency.
The tests will be conducted under the regulatory and technical oversight of the Transport General Authority. Each vehicle will have an on-site safety officer to oversee system functionality during actual operations.
Saudi’s transport and logistics minister, Saleh Al-Jasser, stated that the initiative stems from a collaboration among various government organizations and the private sector, including technology and operational partners like Uber, WeRide, and AiDriver.
Saudi Arabia plans to have 15 percent of the nation’s public transportation vehicles operate autonomously by 2030. In August 2024, it began setting up intelligent communication systems along roads that connect with self-driving vehicles.
- Chinese autonomous driving company WeRide begins operations in Saudi Arabia
- Pony.ai, supported by Neom, to introduce robotaxi services in Dubai
- Masdar City begins trials of self-driving vehicles
The Public Investment Fund established the National Automotive and Mobility Investment Company in 2023 with the aim of enhancing domestic production and supply chain development within the automotive and mobility sectors.
The upcoming organization will handle strategic investments and collaborations with both regional and international private sector firms.
Last month, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) stated that testing of self-driving cars will begin later this year, with intentions to launch a complete commercial version of driverless transportation in 2026.
