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Autonomous startup Auto Knowmerce A2U (hereinafter A2U) announced on the 4th that it will export 19 autonomous vehicles and control and operation solutions to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The deal is valued at approximately 11 billion won (27.91 million dirhams).
A2U signed the agreement with Space42, a company operating the autonomous service 'TXAI' in the UAE. Through this contract, Space42 plans to completely replace the Chinese-made autonomous vehicles currently used in its TXAI service with A2U's vehicles and conduct control and operations using A2U's solutions.
The vehicles supplied by A2U include eight driverless Level 4 robo-shuttles 'ROii' developed in-house, five autonomous vehicles modified based on the Kia PV5, five autonomous vehicles based on the Carnival, and one autonomous vehicle based on a MAN bus, totaling 19 units. ROii is produced domestically and exported as complete vehicles, while the remaining vehicles will be locally sourced and then modified.
Additionally, A2U plans to supply integrated control infrastructure required for local autonomous shuttle operations, including control systems and remote-control cockpits, and will also provide a call service that integrates the vehicles with Space42's applications.
The vehicles are scheduled to be deployed for pilot operations in the second half of this year on Saadiyat Island and Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. After verifying local road conditions and usage demand, the company plans to transition its service model to demand-responsive transportation (DRT) and tourist shuttles after 2027. Given that the UAE is pushing for a comprehensive smart mobility transformation, large-scale future exports of autonomous vehicles are expected depending on the results.
A2U previously established a joint venture with Space42 in the UAE last year to strengthen their partnership. The joint venture subsequently secured contracts for projects such as the Abu Dhabi autonomous driving project, and the partner Space42 decided to switch its local operational service vehicles and technology to A2U, leading to this direct supply contract.
A2U stated, "Our domestic experience in the largest-scale autonomous driving demonstration and operations has demonstrated our competitiveness." A2U has achieved a cumulative 1.02 million kilometers of autonomous driving records through pilot projects across 13 provinces and cities in Korea. Currently, A2U holds temporary permits for 91 autonomous vehicles.
Han Ji-hyung, CEO of Auto Knowmerce A2U, said, "This export contract is a result achieved with domestic technology in the Middle East, where countries around the world are competing fiercely as future battlegrounds for mobility. Going forward, we will expand demonstrations in diverse environments including the United States and China to advance E2E (end-to-end) autonomous driving technology and lead South Korea's leap as a leading physical AI nation."
[MoneyToday startup media platform Unicorn Factory]
in FUTURE
