ASTANA – Kazakhstan plans to introduce a driverless taxi service in 2027, with an autonomous vehicle already undergoing testing in Almaty and a pilot project underway in three cities.
Photo credit: Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan
The first driverless vehicle is currently being tested in Almaty, where it is collecting data and creating a digital map of the city, Yandex Qazaqstan CEO Timur Shalekenov said during a Sept. 22 government meeting.
The vehicle must cover several thousand kilometers in test mode before the first commercial passenger trips can begin, he noted.
Meanwhile, the government is working on the regulatory framework needed to operate autonomous vehicles. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev said the pilot project covers Almaty, Astana and Kosshy.
The development comes as Kazakhstan is also exploring other forms of next-generation urban mobility, including passenger air taxis, with the country recently taking its first steps toward testing eVTOL aircraft.
