摘要：ABU DHABI, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- As autonomous driving technology is gradually entering the international market, Abu Dhabi has rece

ABU DHABI, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- As autonomous driving technology is gradually entering the international market, Abu Dhabi has recently begun a trial run of autonomous taxi services on its Saadiyat Island.

During the trial, a Xinhua correspondent boarded the autonomous vehicle to experience firsthand a pilot program jointly developed by the UAE-based AutoGo and China's autonomous ride-hailing company Apollo Go, which recently received Abu Dhabi's first commercial license for fully driverless operations.

Once the doors closed, the car accelerated smoothly. Interior screens displayed a real-time navigation map, while the artificial intelligence (AI) system continuously analyzed road conditions, identifying speed limits, reading traffic signals and calculating distances with precision. The ride offered a notable sense of safety and calm.

Throughout the journey, the vehicle demonstrated solid technical stability and reliability. It stopped gently at traffic lights, remained firmly within its designated lanes, and reached each pre-set waypoint with impressive punctuality -- all without any human intervention. The only audible sound was the soft hum of its electric motors.

Fatmah AlHantoubi, head of transport service planning at Abu Dhabi's Integrated Transport Center, told Xinhua the trial marks an important step in assessing the readiness of autonomous vehicles in real-world conditions.

"We are testing these vehicles in real environments with a focus on the highest safety standards," she said. "The technology can perceive its surroundings with an accuracy that in some cases exceeds human capability."

According to AlHantoubi, these trials are part of a broader global trend. Apollo Go recently announced that its autonomous fleet has logged over 240 million km, operates in 22 cities, receives more than 250,000 weekly orders, and has completed over 17 million rides to date. This momentum, she said, underscores Abu Dhabi's strategic approach to future mobility that goes beyond technology deployment.

Apollo Go earlier stated that its partnership with AutoGo aims to build the largest autonomous driving fleet in the emirate, supporting Abu Dhabi's goals of reducing emissions, improving mobility quality and advancing smart-city development.

Abu Dhabi has become a key destination for many Chinese tech firms. Earlier this week, Didi Autonomous Driving, the self-driving unit of Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi, signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office.

Under the agreement, Didi Autonomous Driving will join Abu Dhabi's Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries cluster. The two sides will collaborate on autonomous driving technology innovation, AI talent development, and ecosystem building.

来源：中国网一点号