Driverless vehicle testing in Kazakhstan may face delays

Kazakhstan has approved rules for a pilot project to introduce driverless cars; however, they are unlikely to be tested this year, according to Kolesa.kz.according to Kolesa.kz.

The three-year pilot project is planned for Astana, Almaty and Kosshy, as well as at testing facilities and on designated public roads. Passenger cars and vans with conditional or high driving automation will be tested.

Requirements

To participate in the testing, a vehicle must obtain a safety certificate for the construction of a motor vehicle (SBKTS) and be registered with a corresponding notation on its vehicle registration certificate.

Vehicles must be equipped with systems that continuously record data from automated driving sensors, as well as cameras inside and outside the vehicle, and must allow the driver or a remote operator to disable the autopilot in an emergency.

In addition, the vehicle must display a special «Autonomous Control» sign, and passengers must be able to contact the support service. Before taking to public roads, the vehicle must successfully complete at least 100 hours of testing at a testing facility.

100 accident-free rides

After being approved for road use, the vehicles will be allowed to operate as taxis without an operator on board. Rides can be booked through dedicated apps or aggregators.

Each driverless vehicle must be insured against third-party liability, including liability to passengers, for 60 million tenge (approx. $131,293). In the event of a road accident, information must be reported to 102, the police emergency number. The circumstances of the accident will be determined in part using video camera footage.

During road tests, driverless vehicles must travel at least 10,000 kilometers and complete at least 100 passenger rides without accidents caused by the automated system.

Why the project is not starting

The main issue is certification. Driverless vehicles must have an SBKTS to undergo testing, but Kazakhstan currently has no relevant standard under which such vehicles can be assessed.

In addition, there are no accredited laboratories capable of conducting the required tests. Developing the standards and setting up the necessary laboratory infrastructure will take time.

Therefore, despite the approved rules, driverless vehicles are unlikely to even reach testing facilities in Kazakhstan in 2026. The country still needs to establish the regulatory and technical infrastructure required for their certification.