RIYADH: Chinese company QCraft intends to enter the autonomous driving market in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East region, according to its founder and CEO, James Yu, who spoke to Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper.
The company, which specializes in developing advanced autonomous driving technologies, made its first appearance in the region during its participation in the Global CommoMotion Summit 2025, held in Riyadh from Dec. 7 to 9.
The company’s interest in the Middle East comes after its expansion in Asia and Europe, according to Yu, who confirmed that the Saudi market is large and has strong demand.
He said: “We plan to increase our investments and support the local mobility industry through safer and more efficient solutions, relying on clean energy in logistics services.”
Why Saudi Arabia?
QCraft’s participation in the Global CommoMotion Summit was part of a series of presentations and lectures that focused on the latest developments in electric vehicles, autonomous mobility, and artificial intelligence in transportation as well as hydrogen and alternative fuel technologies, and the future of supply chains and logistics services.
This edition, held in Riyadh, highlights Saudi Arabia’s mega infrastructure projects, including the Riyadh Metro and autonomous vehicle trials on the capital’s streets.
Yu confirmed that the firm is preparing to launch pilot and investment projects in the Kingdom once market assessment is complete. He noted that its Level 2 products have reached approximately 1 million installations globally, while its Level 4 products have been sold in several cities worldwide, including Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
Plans for expansion in the Middle East
QCraft has plans to expand into the Middle East in the coming phase, according to its CEO.
Yu said: “The company has become a major player in the autonomous vehicle sector. We brought RoboBus buses and RoboVan delivery trucks to the Middle East, and we are working to develop partnerships to implement these technologies in everyday services.”
He added that the company aims to build an autonomous driving network that will help improve operational efficiency in the logistics sector, while providing environmentally friendly and safer mobility solutions.
The CommoMotion Summit brings together the public and private sectors from Asia, the Middle East, Europe, North America, and the Global South to discuss the future of mobility and urban transformation, shaping the future of multimodal transportation in the world’s cities.
Saudi Arabia is charting a new course for mobility
Last July, Saudi Arabia launched the initial implementation phase for autonomous vehicles, aiming to develop a smart and safe transportation system in the Kingdom.
This step, which aligns with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, aims to adopt sustainable mobility solutions that leverage the latest artificial intelligence technologies.
In this phase, autonomous vehicles are being deployed in a real-world operational environment covering King Khalid International Airport and several key locations in Riyadh. This includes highways and select destinations in the city center.
Minister of Transport and Logistics Saleh Al-Jasser confirmed at the time that launching the initial application phase embodies an ambitious vision toward building a smart and integrated transportation system that supports economic growth and improves the quality of life.
