Fifty Teslas added to Dubai's taxi fleet

The National -- The next time someone hails a taxi in Dubai, they could find themselves getting into Tesla after fifty of the all-electric cars were added to Dubai Taxi Corporation’s limo fleet on Sunday.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, chief executive of Emirates Airline & Group, and chairman of Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, launched the fleet which includes two models, S from Sedan and X from SUVs, and are capable of self-driving.

The Roads and Transport Authority ordered 200 vehicles from Tesla in February at the World Government Summit.

Seventy-five vehicles will be delivered next year and the remaining 75 are expected to follow in 2019.

“Dubai Taxi Corporation has coordinated with the concerned parties to provide the needed infrastructure to ensure the operation of these vehicles including the provision of 13 electric recharging stations,” said Mattar Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads & Transport Authority.

He said Model S had the greatest possible safety rating at the time of launch and can cover the longest distance of all electic vehicles.

“Model X has a unique feature as it is fitted with falcon wing doors, panoramic windshield, a seven-seat configuration that provides an unprecedented level of comfort, and maneuverability,” said Mr Tayer.