Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently confirmed during the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum that the company’s Robotaxi platform will soon be expanding to Saudi Arabia. This marks a significant step towards growing a driverless fleet of vehicles outside of the United States. This announcement comes as no surprise, as Tesla has been hinting at a global expansion for its Robotaxi platform for some time now.
During the Investment Forum, where a $600 billion investment pledge was agreed upon between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, Musk stated that the Robotaxi platform would eventually make its way to the Kingdom. While no specific timeframe was mentioned, Tesla is gearing up to launch the Robotaxi platform in Austin, Texas, this coming June.
Musk emphasized that autonomous vehicles are essentially robots on four wheels, and he expressed his excitement about bringing this technology to Saudi Arabia. This move aligns with Tesla’s mission to revolutionize transportation and make autonomous driving a reality worldwide.
Tesla’s Full Self-Driving suite, which is currently supervised, has been expanding to other parts of the globe. Earlier this year, it debuted in China for the first time, receiving positive feedback from users. The company has plans to launch in Europe later this year, pending regulatory approval from EU agencies.
What sets Tesla’s Robotaxi platform apart is its versatility. Any Tesla vehicle equipped with unsupervised Full Self-Driving capability can potentially become a Robotaxi, not just a specific model like the Cybercab. This will require collaboration with local authorities to first launch a Supervised version of the suite, followed by the unsupervised FSD platform, paving the way for a Robotaxi network in Saudi Arabia.
Tesla’s relationship with the Middle East appears to be flourishing, as evidenced by the recent launch of the Cybertruck in Saudi Arabia. Customers can now place orders for this innovative electric vehicle, further solidifying Tesla’s presence in the region.
In addition to Tesla’s endeavors, Musk’s Starlink project has received approval for maritime and aviation use cases in Saudi Arabia, expanding the scope of collaboration between the country and the visionary CEO. This development highlights the growing partnership between Tesla and Saudi Arabia, paving the way for a future of innovation and technological advancement in the region.