Page 67 - FUGRO PR REPORT APRIL 2024

5/1/24, 4:06 PM Inaugural DRIFTx: Flying taxis, autonomous cars, seagliders soon to be a reality in Abu Dhabi | Welcome to Mantra
DRIFTx also featured a number of “firsts”, including product unveilings, new showcases, and attracting
international mobility entities to the UAE for the first time. This included the UAE’s first operational vertiport
for vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOLs) which was unveiled by ADIO, in collaboration with the
UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and The Department of Municipalities and Transport – Abu
Dhabi (DMT), represented by Abu Dhabi Mobility (AD Mobility), an affiliate of the Department of
Municipalities and Transport – Abu Dhabi (DMT).
GMC, one of General Motors’ most popular vehicle brands, and Bin Hamooda Auto – GMC dealership for
Abu Dhabi, displayed the brand’s first all-electric supertruck, the GMC HUMMER EV Pickup and SUV. The
GMC HUMMER EV is the first electric addition to GMC’s lineup of bold, capable and precisely crafted
premium trucks and SUVs and provides remarkable on- and off-road capability with a quiet, all-electric
propulsion system. Furthermore, Sienna by May Mobility made their debut in the region by presenting
autonomous solutions for various car models.
Bayanat collaborated with FlyNow Aviation providing visitors with the chance to virtually take to the skies of
Abu Dhabi with the revolutionary eVTOL eCopter, in addition to showing its full-scale HAPS in Abu Dhabi
for the first time. Attendees also got the chance to experience innovations that have come to the UAE for the
first time, including A2z’s MS MiniBus, Carnival Robo taxi, and remote control driving from Abu Dhabi to
Korea.
Furthermore, Multi-Level Group showcased Wings Logistics Hub’s intra-city passenger taxi, and a short-range
light cargo drone which performed flying demonstrations within the event space. Visitors also got to view Big
Drone by DCL, which provided an aerobatic drone for human flight, Ocean Drone 30 by Ocean Drone, and
Fugro demonstrated the Blue Shadow.
The event’s second day featured engaging talks on AI Leading us to Net Zero, A Look at Air Mobility 20 Years
from Now, Traffic Safety Research Priorities towards Vision Zero, Exploring Innovation Across Start-ups,
Robotics & Web 3, and Charting the Tech-Led Future of Mobility in MENA.
In collaboration with the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), the Abu Dhabi Investment
Office (ADIO), Abu Dhabi’s Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industry (SAVI) cluster, Bayanat, and key local
and international strategic partners, including Abu Dhabi Chamber, Joby Aviation, Emirates Driving Company,
7X, Multi-level Group, Archer Aviation, Abu Dhabi Ports Group, and International Road Transport Union
(IRU), DRIFTx has emerged as the world’s premier gathering for global thought leaders and innovators to
explore, showcase, and demonstrate the latest in smart, autonomous, and sustainable mobility solutions from
across the world. Building on its success, the second edition of DRIFTx is set to take place once again in Abu
Dhabi during the first quarter of 2025. (ANI/WAM)

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