Gasgoo Munich- MINIEYE recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Hong Kong with ewpartners, marking a joint move into the Middle East market, according to a post issued on Jan. 20 via MINIEYE's WeChat account.
The partnership will focus on rising demand for smarter logistics and mobility solutions in the region, with plans to deploy MINIEYE's self-developed autonomous logistics vehicles, or Robovans, in Saudi Arabia.
Driven by Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, which emphasizes economic diversification and the modernization of transport and logistics systems, the Middle East is seeing a rapid rise in structural demand for automated and intelligent technologies. Against this backdrop, the two partners plan to explore large-scale deployment of Level 4 autonomous vehicles across the region, targeting the rollout of up to 1,000 vehicles before 2030. The agreement represents MINIEYE's official entry into the Middle East and the first overseas expansion of its L4 autonomous driving business.
The collaboration will span a wide range of logistics and mobility use cases, tailoring autonomous solutions to real-world operating conditions in the region. By aligning technology deployment with local requirements, the partners aim to improve operational efficiency and service performance across multiple scenarios.
Image source: MINIEYE
At the heart of the partnership, MINIEYE will leverage its fully in-house L4 autonomous driving stack to introduce its Xiaozhu Robovan and a complete set of supporting technologies to the Saudi market in phases. Built on the company's extensive experience in mass-produced, factory-installed passenger vehicle systems, the Xiaozhu Robovan features a full automotive-grade intelligent driving suite and is designed for applications such as urban parcel delivery and retail distribution. To address Saudi Arabia's extreme heat and frequent sandstorms, the vehicles will undergo targeted adaptations to ensure stable operation across diverse and challenging environments.
As an investment firm with long-standing involvement in cross-border projects between Saudi Arabia and China, ewpartners will draw on its extensive local network and on-the-ground resources to facilitate pilot projects and real-world deployments. Through its understanding of regional regulations and policy frameworks, the firm will support compliance, help overcome market entry barriers, and accelerate MINIEYE's localization efforts in the Middle East.
