Chinese robotaxi companies forge ahead with UAE expansion despite Iran war

BEIJING — At least three Chinese robotaxi companies are pressing ahead with expansion plans in the Middle East despite the ongoing Iran war.

Ride-hailing company Didi plans to begin its first overseas robotaxi test in the United Arab Emirates later this year, according to a statement Wednesday.

Zhang Bo, co-founder of Didi and head of its autonomous driving business, disclosed the plans at a UAE-China business cooperation forum in Beijing earlier this week, according to the statement. Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Tuesday as part of a three-day state visit.

Didi’s UAE testing plan follows a broader push by Chinese autonomous driving companies in the region.

Guangzhou-based WeRide said earlier this month it had launched fully driverless, fare-charging robotaxi service in Dubai’s Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim districts. Riders can book a robotaxi through Uber‘s app.

Pony.ai is also pursuing commercial operations in the emirate. In late March, Pony.ai CEO James Peng said in response to a CNBC question that the war had not affected its application for a commercial license in Dubai and that he viewed the conflict as short term.

The Chinese robotaxi company said in September that it received permission from Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority to test autonomous driving locally.

Baidu‘s robotaxi unit Apollo Go also announced on April 1 that residents and visitors in Dubai could start hailing fully driverless rides through its app. It was not immediately clear whether there were restricted areas of operation.

Dubai’s media office said in a social media post that the rollout would start with 50 vehicles, with plans for over 1,000 robotaxis over the next few years.

Chinese robotaxi companies have ramped up their global expansion plans in the last two years, with the Middle East emerging as an early launch market, followed by tests in Europe. Meanwhile, Alphabet-backed Waymo has rolled out fleets across more of the U.S. and has begun tests in London and Japan.