SODA.Auto + Dubai Future Labs Launch Dubai Autonomous Racing Crew

SODA.Auto and Dubai Future Labs, part of Dubai Future Foundation, have formed DARC – Dubai Autonomous Racing Crew – a new autonomous racing team representing Dubai in the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL).

The collaboration brings together Dubai Future Labs’ experience in robotics, autonomous systems and applied research with SODA.Auto’s expertise in software-defined vehicles, simulation and rapid engineering. The team was formed and brought to the starting grid in just three weeks, moving from decision to race-ready autonomous software at exceptional speed.

DARC is competing in the A2RL Sim Sprint, one of the most demanding environments for autonomous driving software. Racing places AI systems under continuous pressure: vehicles must combine outright pace with consistency, wheel-to-wheel decision-making, collision avoidance and the ability to adapt quickly from one race to the next.

For SODA.Auto, autonomous racing is a natural proving ground for the same principles behind software-defined mobility: tight integration between simulation, validation and execution, short feedback loops, and the ability to turn engineering changes into measurable results quickly.

“From forming the team to the starting grid in three weeks, DARC demonstrates what becomes possible when strong teams, software-defined engineering and a clear execution mindset come together. We are proud to build this capability together with Dubai Future Labs and to represent Dubai on the A2RL grid.”

— says Sergey Malygin, CEO of SODA.Auto.

DARC is now well into its first season, continuing to improve race by race and building a foundation for further autonomous racing development from Dubai.