Elon Musk Says He Needs to Carry Tesla Robotaxis to Saudi Arabia

Tesla CEO Elon Musk mentioned he desires to convey robotaxis to Saudi Arabia, the place Uber is already laying the groundwork to launch autonomous autos later this yr.

On the US-Saudi Funding Discussion board on Tuesday, Musk made an enormous push for robotics in Saudi Arabia, together with self-driving automobiles.

“Actually you may consider future automobiles as being robots on 4 wheels, and I believe it could be very thrilling to have autonomous autos right here within the Kingdom if you happen to’re amenable,” Musk mentioned to Abdullah Alswaha, Saudi’s Minister of Communications and Data Know-how.

Musk did not present any particulars or timeline for when that might occur.

Tesla has but to launch its robotaxi service to the general public wherever on the planet. The corporate has mentioned it plans to launch a pilot of the service in Austin in June. Musk mentioned the ramp-up for enlargement afterward must be fast.

A Tesla spokesperson didn’t reply to a request for remark.

Saudi Arabian leaders have mentioned they need autonomous autos to play a task within the nation’s broader Imaginative and prescient 2030 modernization plans, which goal to scale back the area’s financial dependence on oil by making heavy investments in expertise. The nation final yr launched a regulatory framework across the adoption of self-driving automobiles.

Uber introduced on Could 6 that it plans to deploy robotaxis within the Kingdom someday this yr by way of its partnership with China’s Pony.AI. The corporate hasn’t specified a date.

Pony.AI’s robotaxi ambitions within the US got here to a screeching halt in 2022 after the Division of Motor Autos revoked its California allow, citing a number of driving violations. The startup continues to supply autonomous rides to the general public in China.

A spokesperson for Pony.AI didn’t reply to a request for remark.

Saudi Arabia’s Transport Basic Authority mentioned Tuesday in a publish on X that the company had signed a memorandum of understanding with Uber to launch autonomous autos within the Kingdom. An MOU isn’t binding and easily indicators an intent to collaborate.

“First autonomous autos anticipated to launch on the Uber platform with onboard security operators in 2025,” the Transport Basic Authority wrote.

Uber is already a large participant within the Kingdom’s rideshare market.

The corporate owns Careem, which is the go-to ride-hailing app within the Center East, working in 26 cities all through the Kingdom. Uber additionally individually operates its ridesharing service within the area.

A spokesperson for Uber declined to remark. A spokesperson for Careem didn’t reply to a request for remark.

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