Kazakhstan unveils plans to boost use of EVs and driverless cars

Zhaslan Madiyev, Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry, suggests launching a program to encourage application of EVs and driverless cars, Kazinform News Agency correspondent reports. 

vehicles
Photo: Agibay Ayapbergenov/Kazinform

According to Madiyev, a regulatory sandbox is set to be launched to aid the use of driverless cars, with regulations to be developed later. 

Kazakhstan eyes international partnerships with Waymo (Google), Tesla, Baidu, Mobileye, Yandex and Huawei to pilot autonomous driving technologies, as the country already selected test sites and completed regulations.

This will drive foreign investments in research, infrastructure and production of components of autonomous vehicles. For instance, a regulatory sandbox enabled WeRide and Cruise to start trials of self-driving taxis in the UAE, said the Kazakh minister during the government’s Tuesday meeting.

Madiyev went on to add that it’s also expected to encourage application of EVs through infrastructure development and offering incentives for EVs, including parking discounts and access to dedicated bus lanes.

As earlier reported, the number of passenger cars was up in Kazakhstan. 

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