[Press]Autonomous a2z Partners with UAE Sovereign Wealth Fund Subsidiary Bayanat AI for Expansion into the Middle East Region

8 May 2024

Abdulla Al Shamsi, COO of Bayanat (left), and Han Ji-hyeong, CEO of Autonomous a2z (right), posing after signing the MOU | Photo by AVING News


Global autonomous driving startup Autonomous a2z, led by CEO Han Ji-hyeong, signed a partnership agreement with Bayanat AI, a Geo-AI company owned by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), for expansion into the Middle East region at the DRIFTx exhibition held at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi on April 26th (local time).

Bayanat AI, listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, is an artificial intelligence company specializing in geographic-spatial data. It is a subsidiary of Mubadala, a UAE sovereign wealth fund, and a subsidiary of G42, a UAE artificial intelligence sector holding company in which Silver Lake has invested as an FI. As of 2023, its revenue amounted to 435.9 billion KRW, with a net profit of 87.3 billion KRW. Currently, it is engaged in businesses such as geographic data development and sales (gIQ), smart mobility (SMOS), logistics and SCM management AI, and human resources management AI (SOPS).

Recently, Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar have been investing heavily in advanced industries to prepare for the post-oil era. Among them, the Dubai government, one of the emirates of the UAE, has launched the Dubai Autonomous Transportation Strategy, aiming to achieve 25% autonomous driving of total traffic by 2030. Moreover, most Middle Eastern countries are accelerating urban development projects, increasing demand for precision mapping and autonomous driving. As a result, investment in smart city development and mobility sectors is growing significantly.

Bayanat AI is one of the leading companies in this field, possessing advanced technology, especially in precise mapping, local networks, and mobility business. Incorporating Autonomous a2z's autonomous driving technology, they aim to collaborate on joint projects in the Middle East region. In particular, they plan to develop circular autonomous driving projects in airports, hotels, and tourist destinations. Autonomous a2z has already conducted more than ten local trials in this area, thus expecting synergies.

In particular, in the smart mobility sector responsible for autonomous driving, mobility clouds, and HD maps, they aim to strengthen the expansion of mobility business in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region through collaboration with Autonomous a2z.


A view of the Autonomous a2z booth inside the DRIFTx exhibition in Abu Dhabi on April 26th (local time). | Photo by AVING News


Abdulla Al Shamsi, COO of Bayanat, stated, "The UAE has many young people familiar with advanced technology, demanding innovative solutions and leading innovation," adding, "By gathering such knowledge and technology, we will develop the future transportation of the UAE into safer, smarter, and more accessible mobility products."

During this exhibition, Autonomous a2z unveiled the 'a2z Remote Control System' to enhance visitors' understanding of leading mobility control technology. This system, located in a driver's seat-shaped playseat at Abu Dhabi's K-City, allows direct remote control of autonomous vehicles in the K-City autonomous driving testing facility in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi-do.

The significance of this remote driving system lies in allowing control centers to intervene in situations where autonomous driving is impossible. Even with a distance of up to 7,000km between the control system and the actual driving vehicle, a2z demonstrated outstanding safety and stability, attracting favorable responses from global visitors. Furthermore, the a2z Remote Control System set a new record for the world's best and longest-distance remote driving and control system.

Han Ji-hyeong, CEO of Autonomous a2z, expressed, "I am very pleased to discover a new axis that will contribute to the expansion of our global presence through the partnership agreement with Bayanat AI," adding, "Based on our accumulated driving distance of over 400,000 km and the development of over 40 autonomous vehicles domestically, we will widely promote Korean autonomous driving technology in various cities in the Middle East and lay the groundwork for global expansion."

Furthermore, Yoo Min-sang, CSO of Autonomous a2z, said, "This partnership is just the first step in a global project considering various local businesses, rather than a simple MOU," and revealed plans, "We cannot disclose specific details yet, but we expect to carry out more than two Middle East projects within this year."

Autonomous a2z was founded in 2018 as an autonomous driving startup, accumulating solid technology by conducting autonomous driving trials with 13 models and about 40 vehicles based on its autonomous driving software. In January of this year, it achieved a cumulative driving distance of 400,000 km for autonomous driving, firmly establishing itself as the leading autonomous driving company in Korea, and ranked 13th in the "Global Autonomous Driving Technology Comprehensive Ranking" by Guidehouse in 2023, gaining recognition for its technology in the global market.

Visitors Experiencing a2z Remote Control System in the Autonomous a2z booth at the DRIFTx | Photo by AVING News



AVING News | https://us.aving.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=50810