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On August 22, Zhang Guohong, Director of the Shenzhen Urban Management and Comprehensive Law Enforcement Bureau, Saeed Alsafar, Head of the Sanitation Operations Center at Dubai Municipality, Sadin Alfalasi, Technical Operations Manager, and William Liu, Partner and COO of Autowise.ai gathered to discuss urban management, fostering communications between Shenzhen and Dubai.

Governments worldwide are actively participating in international exchanges on smart cities to explore innovative governance models and enhance urban development. As a global leader in the commercialization of autonomous driving, Autowise.ai is leveraging its expertise in intelligent sanitation and strong resource integration capabilities to promote Chinese innovation in “Belt and Road” countries. The company is actively helping cities like Shenzhen and Dubai establish stronger communication channels and collaborate on smart city governance.

Supporting Shenzhen’s Autonomous Sanitation Industry to Develop a Replicable Business Model

In 2022, Shenzhen was the first to introduce the “Shenzhen Special Economic Zone Regulations on the Management of Intelligent Connected Vehicles,” providing a legal basis for market access and commercial operations of intelligent connected vehicles. In 2023, Shenzhen further advanced the mechanization and intelligence of sanitation operations by promoting policies to increase the use of autonomous sanitation vehicles and robots. To support these policies, Autowise.ai deployed multiple autonomous street sweepers, including the V3 and Platforma-X models, across various districts such as Nanshan, Bao’an, Futian, Guangming, Pingshan, and Luohu, operating in diverse environments like public roads, parks, squares, and university campuses.

Zhang Guohong highlighted Shenzhen’s comprehensive sanitation solution, which encompasses the entire sanitation chain, from cleaning and waste sorting to collection, transportation, and final disposal. He also shared Shenzhen’s experience in using autonomous driving to enhance urban sanitation management. The widespread application of Autowise.ai’s solutions in Shenzhen has established a replicable and scalable business model for autonomous sanitation. The Autowise V3, Platforma-X, and Roboard-X are already commercially operational in various locations.

Strengthening AI Industry Collaboration to Set a Benchmark for Autonomous Sweeping in Dubai

Dubai places a strong emphasis on smart environmental protection and has launched the “Future Outlook Plan” to create a dynamic and resilient urban environment through technology, positioning itself as a global leader in sustainable urban development. This year, Dubai began constructing the world’s most eco-friendly highway. The UAE has long faced challenges in urban governance due to extreme heat, high labor costs, and complex management issues. Its government prioritizes AI industry development and international cooperation, viewing digital economy growth as a strategic direction, encouraging AI research and application, and building a technology-driven, sustainable digital economy. As the UAE’s largest city and a financial hub, Dubai has actively promoted autonomous driving – The “Dubai Autonomous Driving Strategy” aims to make 25% of Dubai’s traffic autonomous by 2030, reducing costs, accidents, pollution, and governance expenses.

Last October, Autowise.ai began operations at Dubai’s Jumeirah Beach, showcasing intelligent cleaning capabilities in complex environments, marking a significant milestone for Chinese autonomous driving technology abroad. Dubai Municipality praised the Autowise V3’s capabilities and featured its operation on official social media.

Autowise V3 at Dubai’s Jumeirah Beach

Expanding in the GCC: A New Chapter in Middle East Strategy

During the visit, Autowise.ai signed a cooperation agreement with Intercare LLC, a major provider of cleaning, chemical, and energy solutions in the Middle East and the largest distributor of sanitation equipment in the region. The agreement outlines plans to deploy thousands of Autowise.ai’s autonomous cleaning products over the next three years, expanding its business ecosystem in the Middle East.

Prior to this, Autowise.ai had already formed a strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia’s Ajlan Brothers Holding Group, signing a letter of intent for a joint venture at the end of last year. The joint venture aims to deploy over 1,000 autonomous driving products in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, establishing large-scale fleets in Saudi Arabia as a demonstration for autonomous technology. Autowise V3 has already been deployed in Riyadh, marking the partnership’s initial implementation. The deployment of Roboard-X and Platforma-X in the Middle East is also progressing steadily.

William Liu, Partner and COO of Autowise.ai, noted that Autowise.ai is the first Chinese autonomous driving company deeply engaged in the sanitation sector and the first to implement technology in overseas sanitation scenarios. Autowise.ai leads in productization and commercialization, with operations in over 30 cities worldwide and flagship projects in Shenzhen and Dubai. The company has pioneered dual empowerment in the global autonomous sanitation industry, integrating technology and operations. Autowise.ai is committed to collaborating with municipal departments globally to enhance sanitation efficiency through technology, promoting sustainable development of smart cities worldwide.