Abu Dhabi has entered into agreements with 25 global firms to participate in its recently established cluster for the advancement of cutting-edge vehicles within the coming three months.
This initiative is part of Abu Dhabi’s broader efforts in the fields of advanced manufacturing and sustainable transportation.
Companies Joining Savi Cluster in Masdar City
The companies that are becoming part of the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industry (Savi) cluster, situated in Masdar City, specialize in areas such as autonomous taxis, underwater drones, robotic installations, and artificial intelligence.
This information was shared by Massimo Falcioni, the Chief Competitiveness Officer at the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (Adio), during an interview, according to The National News.
Mr. Falcioni mentioned that the 25 companies selected by Adio originate from Korea, China, and the United States. He made this announcement during the UN Conference on Trade and Development’s (Unctad) World Investment Forum, which took place in Abu Dhabi.
Additionally, this group of 25 companies complements the six firms that were previously introduced earlier in the week, making the total number of companies within Savi exceed 30.
Together they represent “several tens of millions of dollars” in investment from the diverse companies ranging from start-ups to large, well-established manufacturers, Mr Falcioni said.
“To be a smart city you will need a lot more usage of this kind of autonomous transportation, reducing CO2 emissions because these vehicles optimise routes and integrating data between the vehicle and the passenger,” he said.
“So this is an important step by Abu Dhabi towards becoming a smart city.”
New Partners Joining Savi on October 16th
On the 16th of October, Adio reported that it had entered into agreements with the commercial helicopter operator Abu Dhabi Aviation and the Chinese electric vehicle brand Neta Auto to become part of Savi.
Additionally, they unveiled a collaboration with the California-based aircraft company Archer Aviation to initiate all-electric air taxi services in the UAE by 2026.
On the 15th of October, Adio revealed that they had signed contracts with California’s electric aircraft manufacturer Joby Aviation, the Chinese autonomous vehicle startup WeRide, and the UAE’s unmanned maritime systems company Marakeb Technologies to become members of the high-tech cluster.
“I will not be surprised in no more than 12 to 18 months to see to see big, big development of autonomous vehicles,” Mr Falcioni said.
The cluster-based in Masdar City, which was unveiled on the 13th of October, is focused on creating intelligent and self-driving vehicles for various terrains, including air, land, and sea.
It is anticipated to make a significant economic impact, with projections of contributing between AED 90B ($24.5B) and AED 120B ($32.7B) to the UAE’s economy, as well as potentially generating up to 50,000 jobs, according to statements made by officials last week.
This initiative aligns with the UAE’s broader goals of enhancing the industrial sector’s contribution to the gross domestic product, advancing manufacturing technologies, mainstreaming smart mobility solutions, and establishing sustainable transportation systems.
