The driverless taxi project is set to kick off in Astana in 2026. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, the Ministry of Transport, the city governor’s office and the company inDrive have signed a memorandum to begin work on the initiative.
At the first stage, the parties plan to create a testing ground and a so-called regulatory sandbox to address legislative issues and assess the city’s infrastructure readiness. The initial phase is scheduled for early 2026.
The preliminary route will run from Astana International Airport to Abu Dhabi Plaza and will be served by vehicles already in use in major cities around the world. Trips will be conducted only after a risk assessment and under the supervision of the operator and manufacturer.
Passengers will be able to call robotaxis through the inDrive app. The company will also arrange a dedicated passenger pickup zone at the airport.
A full-scale launch will only be possible after successful trial results and the establishment of the required regulatory conditions, the company said.
Separately, a drone delivery service is set to be tested in Almaty.
