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UAE Deploys First Fleet Of Driverless Electric Cargo Trucks
The rollout of driverless commercial vehicles in Ras Al Khaimah, spearheaded by Evocargo and RAK Ceramics, marks a first for UAE logistics.
The UAE has put its first commercial fleet of driverless electric cargo trucks on the road, marking a step change for the country’s logistics sector. The rollout, led by Evocargo with RAK Ceramics, is taking place in the Al Jazeera Al Hamra industrial zone in Ras Al Khaimah, a hub for large-scale manufacturing and transport projects.
Evocargo’s unmanned N1 trucks are now moving ceramics and sanitary ware between RAK Ceramics sites. Each vehicle can travel up to 200 kilometers per charge and recognizes road signs, crossings, and obstacles in real time. It’s the first time autonomous trucks have been used commercially in the UAE, a move that places the country among a small group of markets deploying driverless freight at scale.
The N1 runs on Evocargo’s fifth-generation autopilot and an AI-based multi-sensor system using LIDAR, sonar, and cameras to interpret surroundings and react instantly to changing road conditions. A four-layer safety framework underpins the system, designed to ensure both reliability and data accuracy. The trucks operate around the clock, pausing only to charge while loading or unloading.
“This launch proves autonomous, zero-emission transport is no longer a concept, but a viable solution for daily commercial operations,” said Shaheem Musthafa, CEO of Evocargo Autonomous Logistic Services in the UAE. “Our Robots-as-a-Service model makes this innovation accessible and scalable, offering businesses subscription-based access to autonomous vehicles without upfront costs”.
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RAK Ceramics said the shift supports both operational efficiency and sustainability targets. “By adopting these advanced technologies, we are enhancing operational performance and efficiency, as well as contributing to a reduced carbon footprint,” the company noted.
The project reflects the UAE’s wider push toward smart mobility and decarbonization under Vision 2030. It also signals how the country’s industrial zones are becoming testbeds for automation and AI-driven logistics across the wider MENA region.
News
AltoVolo Opens Orders For Limited Edition Sigma eVTOLs
Early buyers can now reserve build slots for AltoVolo’s 500-mile hybrid aircraft through a new online configurator.
AltoVolo has started taking pre-orders for its first electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, the Sigma, moving the startup closer to commercial rollout. Customers can now secure a build slot with a £860 deposit and customize every detail online — from paintwork to seatbelt stitching. It’s the first configurator of its kind for a civilian eVTOL, mirroring how luxury car brands let clients tailor performance models before production.
The Sigma runs on a hybrid-electric tilting jet system built for long range and low noise. It can travel up to 500 miles at a 220-mph cruise, and is over 80% quieter than a helicopter. The three-seater weighs just 980kg and can maintain stable flight even if one jet fails. Safety systems include triple-redundant controls, thrust-vectoring stability and a ballistic parachute.
“We will be delivering an ultra-refined hybrid electric aircraft,” said founder and CEO Will Wood. “We believe there are thousands of customers for this type of cutting-edge technology”.
The first 100 units will come with exclusive materials and finishes. AltoVolo is also setting up a global service and maintenance network, with early planning for overhaul schedules already underway. The company’s focus on ownership experience echoes its ambition to anchor itself alongside established aviation brands rather than pure tech ventures.
To help new owners train, the company has built a full-scale simulator that replicates the Sigma cockpit in carbon fiber and leather. Pilots can log time toward a license using the system, aligned with the new US MOSAIC rules that ease certification for powered-lift aircraft. Certification work in Europe and the UK continues in parallel, signaling growing international alignment around light sport and eVTOL regulation.
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Noise inside the cabin has become another design focus. Engineers are refining internal vibration levels and developing a responsive soundscape that shifts with each jet’s power load — part feedback, part theatre.
Urban air mobility projects across the Gulf and elsewhere are pushing regulators and manufacturers to meet in the middle. Dubai, Riyadh and Doha have each outlined plans for air taxi corridors this decade. AltoVolo’s hybrid Sigma, sitting between electric promise and aviation realism, looks built for that middle ground.
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