Kazakhstan has taken a step toward introducing autonomous taxis in Astana. A memorandum of cooperation was signed by the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, the Ministry of Transport, the Astana city administration, and Yandex Qazaqstan.
The agreement outlines joint work on preparing the legal, technical, and infrastructure conditions needed to launch a driverless taxi service in the capital. The project is expected to move forward in stages, starting with regulatory preparation and pilot testing. Implementation is planned for 2026.
The memorandum was signed with the participation of Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev, minister of transport Nurlan Sauranbayev, deputy akim of Astana Yevgeny Glotov, and head of Yandex Qazaqstan Timur Shalekenov.
Autonomous taxis are viewed as part of Astana’s long-term urban mobility strategy. International studies show that self-driving technologies can reduce accidents by limiting human error, improve traffic efficiency, and make transport more accessible, including for people with limited mobility.
According to Yandex Qazaqstan, the service will be launched gradually, beginning with limited pilot operations. The system will include round-the-clock monitoring, dispatcher support, and trip insurance. As testing progresses and safety is confirmed, the service may be expanded.
At the current stage, the parties will focus on developing regulations, assessing infrastructure needs, and defining how autonomous vehicles can be safely integrated into the city’s transport system.
