Kazakhstan approves rules for driverless car testing in Astana, Almaty and Kosshy
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Kazakhstan has approved rules for a pilot project on autonomous vehicles with conditional and high automation. The three-year pilot will run in Astana, Almaty and Kosshy, with tests on designated sites and selected public roads, Informburo.kz reports. The approval comes after a preliminary winter test of an autonomous car in Astana in December 2025.
Approval and Regulatory Framework
The rules were enacted through a joint order signed by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of AI and Digital Development, the acting Minister of Transport, and the Minister of Internal Affairs, according to the Ministry of AI and Digital Development. The document defines the pilot project's procedures, participant and vehicle requirements, operational conditions, and mechanisms for state control and safety enforcement. The official text will be published in the Adilet legal-information system within five working days.
Safety and Technical Requirements
Vehicles with conditional automation must have a human driver ready to take over at any moment, while those with high automation may operate without a driver inside if monitored remotely by an operator. All autonomous vehicles must be equipped with data recording systems, video surveillance, emergency shut-off controls for the automated system, special 'Autonomous Control' markings, and software protection against external interference. The rules also address passenger transport, police interactions, accident protocols, and liability insurance for participants.
Pilot Scope and Locations
The pilot project spans three years and will be conducted in the cities of Astana, Almaty, and Kosshy, with tests conducted on both dedicated proving grounds and specific public road sections agreed with authorized state bodies. Vice-Minister of AI and Digital Development Gizzat Baitursynov stated the project will allow testing of autonomous technologies in real conditions, formation of law enforcement practice, and evaluation of existing regulatory mechanisms.
What's Next
The joint order's full text is expected to be published in the Adilet system within five working days. It remains unclear how quickly commercial autonomous vehicle services could be launched following the pilot.
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Kazakhstan approves rules for driverless car testing in Astana, Almaty and Kosshy
