Driverless trucks, taxis to appear in Kazakhtsan as it braces for road upgrades

Kazakhstan is preparing to make its road infrastructure adaptable for self-driving vehicles and plans to launch its first major pilot projects with driverless freight trucks in 2027, Minister of Transport Nurlan Sauranbayev announced, according to Tengrinews.kz.

“When we build new roads, we will incorporate the necessary sensors into the infrastructure to ensure that autonomous vehicles can operate across Kazakhstan,” Sauranbayev said at a government briefing.

He added that the first pilot projects involving autonomous electric freight trucks are expected to be rolled out jointly with member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). “These vehicles will be electric, capable of functioning around the clock and transporting cargo without drivers,” he noted.

According to the minister, a draft law regulating passenger autonomous taxis and air taxis has already been prepared and is expected to be submitted to parliament next year.

“The key criterion for launching these services is passenger safety,” Sauranbayev stressed.

By Khagan Isayev