A total of 50 new electric vehicles from American automaker Tesla have been inducted into the limo fleet of the Dubai Taxi Corporation. All these vehicles are fitted with several components of self-driving techniques.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Emirates Group, and Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, kicked off the operation of these e-vehicles in the presence of senior government officials, said a statement from Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

Mattar Al Tayer, the director-general and chairman of the board of executive directors of the RTA, also attended the launch ceremony.

The operation of Tesla electric vehicles is a manifestation of the directives of Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to transform Dubai into the smartest city in the world, said the statement.

It also replicates the Green Economy for Sustainable Development Initiative of Sheikh Mohammed and the Dubai Smart Autonomous Mobility Strategy aimed at converting 25 per cent of total journeys into driverless journeys by 2030.

This initiative is also part of the RTA’s expeditious efforts to provide self-driving transit means by going through technological tests designed for autonomous transit means, it stated.

Speaking at the launch, Al Tayer said: "The RTA has recently received the delivery of 50 Tesla vehicles as part of a deal for 200 vehicles signed last February on the sidelines of the World Government Summit 2017. As such, 75 vehicles will be supplied in 2018, and 75 others are to be delivered in 2019."

DTC has coordinated with the concerned parties to provide the needed infrastructure to ensure the operation of these vehicles, including the provision of 13 electric recharging stations, he added.-TradeArabia News Service