<strong>Dubai trials self-driving vehicles: </strong>As part of its efforts to promote driverless vehicles, Dubai trialled this autonomous module from NEXT Future Transportation, which could be showcased at Expo 2020.
Dubai trials self-driving vehicles: As part of its efforts to promote driverless vehicles, Dubai trialled this autonomous module from NEXT Future Transportation, which could be showcased at Expo 2020.
NEXT future transportation
The modular vehicles can each accommodate 10 passengers - or 20 with standing room.<br /><br />Several can be connected together to form a chain, with passengers able to move between units.
The modular vehicles can each accommodate 10 passengers - or 20 with standing room.

Several can be connected together to form a chain, with passengers able to move between units.
NEXT future transportation
Dubai has set a target of having 25% of journeys in the city to be made through self-driving vehicles by 2030 - and separately of having 26% of journeys through public transport by the same year.<br /><br />Pod-style vehicles could play an important role in realizing these targets. Several have been on trial in the city including those of NEXT and French firm Easy Mile, whose EZ10 model is shown here.
Dubai has set a target of having 25% of journeys in the city to be made through self-driving vehicles by 2030 - and separately of having 26% of journeys through public transport by the same year.

Pod-style vehicles could play an important role in realizing these targets. Several have been on trial in the city including those of NEXT and French firm Easy Mile, whose EZ10 model is shown here.
KARIM SAHIB/AFP/AFP via Getty Images
Dubai staged its inaugural Self-Driving Congress in October. The centerpiece was a challenge to produce First and Last Mile Connection vehicles, with more than $5 million in prize money at stake. <br /><br />The five finalists included Easy Mile and fellow French company Navya, whose pod-style vehicles have been in public use in France since 2016.
Dubai staged its inaugural Self-Driving Congress in October. The centerpiece was a challenge to produce First and Last Mile Connection vehicles, with more than $5 million in prize money at stake.

The five finalists included Easy Mile and fellow French company Navya, whose pod-style vehicles have been in public use in France since 2016.
AFP Contributor/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Also a finalist was Dutch company 2getthere, whose vehicles include the Brussels Airport Autonomous Shuttle.
Also a finalist was Dutch company 2getthere, whose vehicles include the Brussels Airport Autonomous Shuttle.
JASPER JACOBS/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Pods have become an increasingly popular mode of autonomous public transport around the world, offering a low-speed, low-cost form of self-driving technology that allows users to become familiar with driverless transport. <br /><br />The 'Olli' bus from Local Motors first carried passengers in Washington in 2016.
Pods have become an increasingly popular mode of autonomous public transport around the world, offering a low-speed, low-cost form of self-driving technology that allows users to become familiar with driverless transport.

The 'Olli' bus from Local Motors first carried passengers in Washington in 2016.
local motors
Passengers wait to embark on a self-driving shuttle bus in Drimmelen, the Netherlands - the country ranked No.1 in KPMG's Autonomous Vehicles Readiness Index.
Passengers wait to embark on a self-driving shuttle bus in Drimmelen, the Netherlands - the country ranked No.1 in KPMG's Autonomous Vehicles Readiness Index.
ROBIN VAN LONKHUIJSEN/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
The "Gacha", a self-driving shuttle bus for all weather conditions, is presented to the public in Helsinki, Finland - the product of a collaboration between MUJI and Sensible 4.
The "Gacha", a self-driving shuttle bus for all weather conditions, is presented to the public in Helsinki, Finland - the product of a collaboration between MUJI and Sensible 4.
HEIKKI SAUKKOMAA/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
The first German autonomous driving public transport bus drives on a country road that is part of its new route near to the train station of Bad Birnbach, southern Germany.<br />The self-driving public transport bus will bring passengers now from the train station to the town centre of Bad Birnbach, and back.
The first German autonomous driving public transport bus drives on a country road that is part of its new route near to the train station of Bad Birnbach, southern Germany.
The self-driving public transport bus will bring passengers now from the train station to the town centre of Bad Birnbach, and back.
CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP/AFP via Getty Images
The Trapizio bus stops for passengers in the Swiss town of Neuhausen Rheinfall.
The Trapizio bus stops for passengers in the Swiss town of Neuhausen Rheinfall.
Amotech / Trapeze
Tourists looking at "Erica", the first driverless autonomous bus in Catalonia, during its presentation in 2018.
Tourists looking at "Erica", the first driverless autonomous bus in Catalonia, during its presentation in 2018.
JOSEP LAGO/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
The Optimus Ride autonomous six-seater shuttle bus drives through the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York City. <br />
The Optimus Ride autonomous six-seater shuttle bus drives through the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York City.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
The launch of an electric self-driving bus service in the French city of Lille.
The launch of an electric self-driving bus service in the French city of Lille.
FRANCOIS LO PRESTI/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
An on-demand autonomous shuttle bus is seen during the official launch of a public trial run at Sentosa island resort in Singapore.
An on-demand autonomous shuttle bus is seen during the official launch of a public trial run at Sentosa island resort in Singapore.
ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Passengers board a self-driving minibus at Shanghai Jiao Tong University in Shanghai, China.
Passengers board a self-driving minibus at Shanghai Jiao Tong University in Shanghai, China.
-/AFP/AFP via Getty Images