Self-driving Shuttles Set to Take Doha's Local Public Transport to the Next Level

Volkswagen AG and the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) sign the 'Project Qatar Mobility' at Doha Forum in Qatar in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani and the representatives of Volkswagen AG and the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA).The agreement is signed between QIA’s CEO Mansoor Al-Mahmoud and Dr. Herbert Diess, Chairman, Volkswagen Group.

QIA and Volkswagen will work together to develop the required physical and digital infrastructure to seamlessly integrate a fleet of self-driving vehicles into Doha's existing public transport network. Autonomous, electric ID. BUZZ AD from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles will shuttle up to four passengers in Westbay area on semi-fixed routes, while high-tech Scania buses pick up larger groups. Volkswagen Group's units AID and MOIA will provide the SDS knowledge and the app software to run the service. For the first time four Volkswagen Group brands are going to work together on such a project of urban mobility.The landmark project aims to create a

"Project Qatar Mobility will play a very important role in our Strategy Together 2025+.

holistic ecosystem for autonomous driving, including the creation of an appropriate legal framework, smart city infrastructure and transfer of knowledge, which can be used as a blueprint to transform urban mobility, both in Qatar and beyond. Closed testing of the shuttle vehicles and buses is expected to begin in 2020 and trials will start as early as 2021. The project will go live during 2022, providing a technical showcase of future autonomous driving.

Boasting about Project Qatar Mobility, Dr Herbert Diess, Chairman, Volkswagen, says: "Project Qatar Mobility will play a very important role in our Strategy Together 2025+. Addressing the economic growth, social development, and environmental management challenges identified as a part of our vision, and underlines our commitment to investing in next generation mobility. We will be experiencing real-world learning and use the project as a stepping stone – for generations to come." Further commenting on this, Mansoor Al Mahmoud, CEO, QIA says: "For our cities to progress we need a new wave of innovation. AI-enabled, emission-free transportation technologies will help advance urban mobility, while diminishing congestion and improving energy efficiency."