Chinese mobility company CaoCao has partnered Abu Dhabi-based AI firm K2 to deploy a fleet of autonomous robotaxis in the United Arab Emirates this year.

Under the cooperation agreement, the companies will begin local testing and validation in Abu Dhabi. K2, a government-owned entity, will provide operational infrastructure and access to testing environments, while CaoCao will supply the vehicles and technical platform management. The initiative is part of Geely Holding Group’s “RoboX” strategy, which aims to establish a global autonomous mobility platform.

CaoCao has developed a purpose-built robotaxi scheduled for mass production in 2027. The company’s long-term objectives include the deployment of 100,000 robotaxis and 100,000 autonomous vans by 2030. The Abu Dhabi project serves as the primary anchor for the company’s expansion into Middle Eastern markets.

The partnership follows a previous agreement between CaoCao and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office. The companies intend to seek further cooperation in autonomous driving technologies across additional regions following the initial UAE deployment.

“CaoCao will use Abu Dhabi as an anchor point to promote the commercial deployment and development of Robotaxis in the Middle East and more overseas markets,” the company said in a statement regarding the RoboX strategy.