Dubai Officially Deploys Tesla Model S, X Taxi Fleet

7 years, 3 months ago - 22 September 2017, InsideEVs

Just few months after opening the first Tesla showroom and service center in Dubai, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) launched a 50-strong taxi fleet with new Model S and Model X EVs for the Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC).

The purchase of Teslas was ordered by Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The long-term goal is to transform Dubai into the smartest city in the world, and the locals feels that Tesla all-electric vehicles are the most advanced in self-driving world today (at least hardware is ready and the software is awaited).

"The move of adding Tesla electric cars to the taxi fleet is in line with the Green Economy for Sustainable Development Initiative of Shaikh Mohammad and the Dubai Smart Autonomous Mobility Strategy aimed at converting 25 percent of total journeys into driverless journeys by 2030, according to a Gulfnews report."

Currently only several percent of Dubai's revenues comes from oil.