Driverless taxis may hit Kazakh roads in 2027
Kazakhstani e-scooter sharing company JET plans to launch a self-driving taxi service in 2027, JET Group founder Meirambek Abelkassov told Kursiv Cars.
Other companies have tried to launch taxi services in Kazakhstan but were unsuccessful, whereas JET claims it has found a formula capable of changing the market rules.
«JET is not developing just another ride-hailing app, but an end-to-end transport SuperApp, where taxi services are part of a larger ecosystem,» Abelkassov said.
According to him, the new platform will not be merely a ride-hailing service, but a unified system for convenient travel across the city. Such an approach will help avoid price wars and establish the project’s sustainable economics.
«We are focusing on launching a self-driving taxi in particular — a fully autonomous car that controls its route independently, follows traffic rules, avoids obstacles and parks on its own,» he emphasized.
Competition and new market rules
Abelkassov noted that he is not concerned about potential low pricing from major market players such as Yandex Taxi and InDrive. Moreover, the service will not compete for drivers, given its driverless orientation.
«We will be pleased if they notice us and trigger a price war,» he added.
Why Kazakhstan
JET believes there is stable demand for a domestic operator in the country. In addition, specialists with experience at major companies like Uber are involved in the project.
Abelkassov emphasized that the company has not only technological developments but also a wide user base of more than 2 million app members.
Terms and conditions
The entrepreneur said the company aims to launch the driverless taxi service in test mode in 2027, while noting that progress will depend on regulatory, infrastructural and technological factors. He expressed confidence that self-driving taxis can become routine in Kazakhstan.
The first testing location will likely be Alatau City, with later possible expansion to Almaty and Astana.
Kursiv Cars previously reported on the planned launch of a driverless taxi service in Japan based on the Nissan Serena model.
