Skip to main content

trade with estonia

Auve Tech enters the Abu Dhabi market

Auve Tech

Masdar City became Auve Tech´s first client in the Middle East. From the left Taavi Rõivas, Chairman of Auve Tech’s supervisory board and Fatoumata Tall, Trade with Estonia export advisor. Photo: Auve Tech

The autonomous vehicle MiCa, developed by Estonian company Auve Tech, has started operating in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

Auve Tech‘s vehicle hit the roads in the Masdar City district of Abu Dhabi. Masdar City is a technology and business city developed by the renewable energy company Masdar. “Masdar City is the gold standard in the technology world, only the latest and greatest is good enough for them,” said Taavi Rõivas, Chairman of Auve Tech’s supervisory board.

The company’s autonomous vehicle, MiCa, has demonstrated its capabilities in Japan and various regions of Europe, with Masdar becoming its first customer in the Middle East. “This is a huge milestone for Auve Tech, but for us, a sales transaction is never the finish line, but rather the starting point. The service must operate flawlessly, and then we can move on to the next steps,” said Rõivas.

Last-mile vehicles reduce environmental footprint

Auve Tech started operating in Masdar with one MiCa. According to Rõivas, the goal of the first months is to understand how well the public receives the service and what routes and schedules are preferred by the people. “The exact number of vehicles we proceed with will also depend on this feedback,” he specified.

The company had its first contact with Masdar City in November 2023 during an Enterprise Estonia-organised business mission to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The mission was organised for Estonian companies in intelligent transportation systems, with Auve Tech participating, among others.

“Masdar City is the gold standard in the technology world, only the latest and greatest is good enough for them.”
Taavi Rõivas, Chairman of Auve Tech’s supervisory board

The company is currently waiting for permission from the local transport authority of the United Arab Emirates to operate on public roads. “After that, we must refine the transport service to meet the city’s needs. We believe that we can prove that using autonomous last-mile vehicles significantly reduces the need to drive a car and thus the city’s environmental footprint.”

The climate in Abu Dhabi poses significant challenges for vehicle manufacturers. Rõivas noted that the MiCa minibus, which began operating in Masdar, features a more powerful air conditioning system than usual to handle the intense heat. “Paradoxically, the demand for the MiCa service is highest in the summer because even a 100-meter walk is unthinkable in 45-degree heat,” explained Rõivas.

Auve Tech became the market leader in Japan

A few dozen MiCa vehicles manufactured in Estonia also operate in urban traffic all over Japan. They are primarily found in small cities, where they have become a regular part of everyday traffic. The Japanese government plans to introduce autonomous vehicles in 40 cities by the end of this year. “In Japan, we have achieved market leader status in a couple of years. We are working hard to maintain it and bring more new vehicles to the roads,” said Rõivas.

“It is very hard to believe that planet Earth would survive this, so better public transport is not a choice but a necessity.”
Taavi Rõivas, Chairman of Auve Tech’s supervisory board

Last spring, the MiCa vehicle also reached the USA, where a partnership was signed with Guident, a company operating in the same field, to integrate their teleoperation solution into the MiCa autonomous vehicle. “The US market is undoubtedly a huge leap; we are close to bringing good news from there, too. We are moving forward step by step. We need to carefully monitor where the demand for new technology is growing and then respond to it,” said Taavi Rõivas about the company’s next export steps.

“The world of autonomous vehicles is exciting but also very competitive. It is undoubtedly a great effort for a young Estonian company to rise the big players in this world and remain there,” he emphasised.

There are 1.5 billion cars in the world today. International climate goals that require cities and municipalities to evaluate their services present a significant opportunity for autonomous public transport to succeed. “If the entire developing world consumed as much as Europe or the USA, the number of cars would increase to 6 billion, or four times. It is very hard to believe that planet Earth would survive this, so better public transport is not a choice but a necessity. Autonomous last-mile vehicles help public transport reach places it otherwise wouldn’t reach – to the doorstep,” Rõivas said.

GOOD TO KNOW

  • MiCa is an 8-seater autonomous vehicle developed and manufactured in Estonia. In addition to Japan, MiCa has operated for example in Estonia, Finland, Poland, Germany, the United States and the Middle East.
  • Auve Tech is a technology company founded in 2019, which is one of the largest car manufacturers in Estonian history, with nearly 50 autonomous vehicles produced.

This content is funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU

Are you interested in trading with Estonia? Enterprise Estonia is providing sourcing services for foreign enterprises. Contact Estonian export advisors or use our free e-consulting service to start trade with Estonia. 

News

ready to trade with estonia?

ready to trade with estonia?

What is it really like to do business in Estonia? How can you benefit from the country’s world-famous e-solutions and unique business culture? What opportunities await you in your sector?

The Trade Estonia team is here to answer all your questions and point you in the right direction.

Request sourcing help