Dubai-based taxi company, Arabia Taxi Dubai, announced the addition of 269 Tesla Model 3 cars to its fleet in a significant step towards meeting sustainable transport targets.
The company, a subsidiary of the Economic Group Holdings owned by Sheikh Majid bin Hamad Al Qasimi, has signed an exclusive agreement with Tesla to support the transition to environmentally friendly vehicles.
Arabia Taxi Dubai is working in line with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) strategy to convert 100% of taxis into hybrid, electric, and hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2027.
The Economic Group currently owns the largest fleet of private taxi vehicles in the UAE, with about 6,000 taxi vehicles. The new Tesla additions mark a significant milestone in the company’s journey towards a fully electric and carbon-free fleet.
Sheikh Majid bin Hamad Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Economic Group, said, “The company has made remarkable progress in this field, as 83% of the cars in Dubai fleet are currently operating with environmentally friendly hybrid engine technology,” reports Arabian Business.
He added that the company is considering the possibility of using hydrogen-powered vehicles in the future and expanding cooperation with Tesla and other electric car manufacturers to offer clients diversified sustainable transportation options.
“This step confirms the efforts of Arabia Taxi in working to translate the directions of our wise leadership, to rationalize the use of energy in the UAE, and to create a safe, clean, and sustainable environment that lives up to the level of reputation and prestige of Dubai,” said Ahmed Bahrozyan, CEO of the Public Transport Agency at the RTA.
Bahrozyan also emphasized the importance of cooperation between the authority and franchise companies to improve Dubai’s electric transport infrastructure and achieve the goal of converting 100% of taxi vehicles into environmentally friendly cars by 2027.
Back in July 2022, Dubai added the Tesla Model 3 to its taxi fleet as part of a trial. Last month, we saw the Model 3 join taxi fleets in neighboring emirates of Ajman and Sharjah.
This move by Arabia Taxi Dubai highlights the company’s commitment to playing a leading role in transforming the public and private transport industry towards sustainability and reducing the environmental impact of commercial activity in the UAE and the entire region.
