In a move that aims to transform Dubai into the smartest city in the world, the country’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched a 50-strong taxi fleet featuring new Model S and Model X cars.

The vehicles will be part of the Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC) fleet, as directed by Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai. With progressive software updates to complement the existing self-driving hardware, the adoption of Tesla vehicles is said to be in line with the Dubai Smart Autonomous Mobility Strategy.

The aim here is to convert 25% of total journeys into driverless journeys by 2030, and this includes talk of flying taxis as well. Additionally, the electric vehicles will support the Green Economy for Sustainable Development Initiative of Shaikh Mohammad.

“The RTA has recently taken delivery of 50 Tesla vehicles as part of a deal for 200 vehicles signed last February on the sidelines of the World Government Summit 2017. Accordingly, 75 vehicles will be supplied in 2018, and 75 others to be delivered in 2019,” said Mattar Al Tayer, director general and chairman of the board of executive directors of the RTA.

“The Dubai Taxi Corporation has coordinated with the concerned parties to provide the needed infrastructure to ensure the operation of these vehicles including the provision of 13 electric recharging stations,” he added in the report by Gulf News.