Dec 24, 2021: Residents of Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Island can now book driverless taxis.

This is after a successful trial phase of the service, which ends on December 23, state news agency WAM reported. People can book the service through the smartphone application Txai, which is available on the Apple Store or Google Play.

Travel was free during the trial phase, the company has not yet set pricing for future phases. During the trial, the top speed of taxis was set at 90 kmph, but cars generally do not exceed 65 kmph. A security officer sitting in the driver’s seat is only there to intervene if there is a problem.

Hassan Al Hosani, chief executive of Bayanat, which runs the service, said residents can reserve rides as soon as they download the application by following the instructions that appear on screen. They have to be in one of nine locations on Yas Island to book a trip.

Hassan said the first pilot phase of the driverless taxi was launched on Yas Island and will conclude on December 23, adding that the public may use the application for free during this period.

He added Abu Dhabi residents can reserve rides as soon as they download the application by following the instructions that appear on screen, noting they must be at nine locations on Yas island to book a trip.

The current fleet of ‘TXAI’ vehicles consists entirely of electric and hybrid cars, which will help reduce carbon emissions, he noted.

Bayanat recently announced its new fleet of driverless vehicles under the ‘TXAI’ brand, which represents the first fully-automated taxis in the UAE.

Future operations include increasing passenger operations in different areas around Abu Dhabi. The fleet is composed entirely of electric and hybrid cars.

More details about the service can be found on the app.

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