UAE-based autonomous mobility company Autogo has launched RoboTaxi service trials in Abu Dhabi, marking one of the most significant autonomous vehicle deployments in the Middle East. In partnership with Baidu's Apollo Go, the initiative is now running supervised trials on Abu Dhabi streets with a full commercial rollout planned for 2026.
Autogo and Apollo Go Join Forces in Abu Dhabi
Autogo operates under Kintsugi Holding and has partnered with Apollo Go — the autonomous ride-hailing subsidiary of Chinese technology giant Baidu — to deploy self-driving electric taxis across Abu Dhabi. The trials are conducted in coordination with Abu Dhabi's Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), ensuring the service meets local transport regulations and integrates with existing city infrastructure.
The partnership positions Abu Dhabi as a leading destination for autonomous mobility in the region, combining Autogo's local operational expertise with Apollo Go's globally proven autonomous driving platform.
RT6: The Sixth-Generation RoboTaxi
The trials use Apollo Go's RT6 vehicle — a sixth-generation autonomous electric taxi designed specifically for commercial ride-hailing. The platform has an established track record: Apollo Go has logged over 150 million kilometres of autonomous driving and surpassed 10 million ride orders globally, making it one of the most extensively tested autonomous vehicle systems in the world.
The RT6 is built with AI-driven real-time road response systems and a fully electric drivetrain, targeting three core benefits for Abu Dhabi commuters:
- Improved road safety by eliminating human driving errors - Reduced traffic congestion through AI-optimised route planning - Zero-emission transport via an all-electric powertrain
What Abu Dhabi's ITC Said
Dr Abdulla AlGhfeli, Acting Director-General of the Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility), described the expansion as "a pivotal milestone in our journey towards smart mobility," adding that the initiative aligns with Abu Dhabi's broader digital transformation goals and positions the emirate as a global autonomous transport leader.
Kintsugi Holding's Vision for Urban Mobility
Sean Teo, General Manager of Kintsugi Holding, said the RoboTaxi trials in Abu Dhabi "mark the beginning of a large-scale transformation in urban mobility," emphasising that autonomous taxis serve two vital objectives: improving road safety and enabling more sustainable transport.
During the trial period, both Autogo and Apollo Go will refine their autonomous systems through real-world interaction with Abu Dhabi's road environment and the general public before transitioning to full commercial operations.
Full Service Launches in 2026
The comprehensive autonomous transport service is scheduled to launch across Abu Dhabi in 2026. The trial phase will allow engineering teams to stress-test the RT6's systems in local conditions — Abu Dhabi's road network, climate, and traffic patterns — before the commercial fleet scales up.
The milestone places Abu Dhabi alongside Wuhan and San Francisco as cities running large-scale autonomous taxi programmes, reinforcing the UAE's ambition to lead on smart city technology in the Gulf region.
