TRUNK Partners With UAE’s NextGen FDI Initiative To Enhance Regional Autonomous Freight Solutions

The UAE's Ministry of Foreign Trade has revealed that TRUNK, a prominent Chinese tech firm specialising in autonomous driving and AI freight networks, is joining the UAE’s NextGen FDI initiative. This collaboration will see TRUNK set up its regional headquarters in the UAE, expanding its logistics solutions across the Middle East and Africa.

TRUNK, recognised as a "Little Giant" by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, plans to open its UAE facility in 2026. This site will handle sales, operations, maintenance, and manufacturing of autonomous truck systems. Over the next five years, TRUNK aims to deliver 2,000 smart trucks and their systems to regional clients.

Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, remarked on TRUNK's expansion: "TRUNK’s expansion into the UAE through the NextGen FDI initiative underscores the confidence in our thriving, business-friendly environment, which continues to attract innovative-driven, advanced technology companies from across the world. Their pioneering work in autonomous driving will further enhance our state-of-the-art logistics sector and position the UAE as a leader in smart transportation and advanced manufacturing. We are excited to welcome TRUNK to the UAE and look forward to supporting their journey as they contribute to the development of our knowledge economy."

Professor Zhang Tianlei, CEO of TRUNK, shared his excitement about entering the UAE market: "The UAE’s strategic location and supportive business environment make it an ideal hub for our operations in the Middle East and Africa. We look forward to collaborating with UAE partners to advance the region’s logistics sector with our green and intelligent freight solutions."

TRUNK's autonomous driving technology serves sectors like ports, mining, and logistics. The company expects to create 100 to 150 jobs in the UAE over three years. These roles will focus on business development, delivery operations, and research.

The NextGen FDI initiative began in 2022 as part of the UAE's strategy to attract advanced tech firms from various industries. It aims to establish the country as a global innovation hub while diversifying its economy. Adding TRUNK strengthens the UAE's standing in logistics, AI, and robotics.

This partnership highlights the UAE's commitment to fostering innovation by attracting leading technology companies worldwide. As TRUNK integrates into this ecosystem, it will contribute significantly to advancing smart transportation solutions within the region.

With inputs from WAM