Kazakhstan plans to launch self driving cars next year

Self-driving cars could hit the road in Kazakhstan as early as next year / Photo: gov.kz, photo editor: Serikzhan Kovlanbayev

According to Deputy Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Dmitriy Mun, Kazakhstan is planning to introduce self-driving cars next year. At the same time, the ministry is assessing which legislation needs to be amended and what infrastructure must be developed.

«We have already conducted pilot tests to see how self-driving cars perform in winter conditions, without special road markings and under varying temperatures. In Astana and Almaty, traffic lights are equipped with chips that warn vehicles when signals change. A significant part of the infrastructure is already in place. However, there is still room for improvement,» he said on the sidelines of the Senate, the upper house of Kazakhstan’s parliament.

The government is also carrying out a digital road certification process, which is considered necessary for the introduction of self-driving cars in the country. However, earlier this year, Minister of Transport Nurlan Sauranbayev said that the launch of such vehicles was planned for 2027.

As the AI industry continues to grow rapidly and 5G internet expands worldwide, more countries are preparing to adopt self-driving cars and taxis. For example, Chinese technology company Baidu and Uber have announced plans to launch an autonomous taxi service in London early next year.