Mowasalat (Karwa), the official land transport provider in Qatar, has commenced the operational trial of Level 4 autonomous electric taxis in selected areas of Qatar, covering both tourist and service routes.
The announcement was made by Qatar Ministry of Transport (MOT). The Ministry will oversee the trial of electric autonomous taxis. As part of this move, Karwa will work closely with the MOT over the coming period to scan and prepare the proposed routes.
The operational trail will be carried out in two phases. The initial phase involves test runs without passengers. A specialized team will monitor those electric taxis. In the second phase, the trial will be done with passengers but driverless, continuing through the first quarter of next year.
Through these test runs, they aim to evaluate the technology’s readiness and operational efficiency while establishing regulatory frameworks and preparing the necessary infrastructure. This contributes to the nation’s shift toward electric mobility (e-mobility), aligning with Qatar’s broader future smart mobility initiatives.
This move builds on the positive outcomes of previous autonomous electric bus trials and also supports the Autonomous Vehicles Strategy developed by the Ministry of Transport. The strategy fosters the integration of advanced, eco-friendly smart technologies into Qatar’s public transport network.
It also supports Qatar National Vision 2030 which seeks to drive innovation and keep pace with the latest trends in global transportation sector.
Each autonomous taxi used in the operational trials includes six long- and mid-range cameras, four radars, and four LiDAR units, enabling precise detection and navigation control for enhanced operation.
