President Ilham Aliyev has approved amendments to several key legislative acts, including the Merchant Shipping Code, and laws on "Road Traffic," "Transport," "State Duty," "List of items with restricted civil circulation," "Automotive Transport," and "Aviation." These changes establish the legal framework for the operation of autonomous vehicles across Azerbaijan.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the new legislation authorizes the deployment of autonomous transport systems across all modes, including automotive, rail, metro, tram, maritime, and aviation sectors.
This initiative stems from the "Action Plan for 2026-2028 on Accelerating Digital Development," approved by the President on February 27, 2026. The plan mandates the creation of a regulatory environment for autonomous transport based on international best practices. The legislation introduces critical definitions such as "autonomous vehicle," "operator," and "remote control center," while establishing high and fully automated management standards.
Under the new regulations, autonomous vehicles may only operate in designated areas authorized by relevant state authorities following official registration. Entities wishing to act as operators must obtain a certificate, valid for five years, subject to a state duty of 20 AZN. Operators are tasked with monitoring automated systems, intervening in emergencies, ensuring data security, and immediately reporting any incidents to state authorities.
Furthermore, the law mandates that data generated during operation must be transmitted to state information systems in real-time and retained by operators for six months. The legislation also clarifies liability for damages, requiring that vehicle owners, operators, and manufacturers adhere to specific insurance requirements. To ensure public safety, a special "Autonomous Vehicle" identification sign will be introduced for road vehicles, and civil-use autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been added to the list of items requiring special permits for circulation.
The integration of autonomous transport represents a significant step in Azerbaijan's digital transformation strategy. By establishing a structured regulatory test environment, the country aims to modernize its infrastructure, improve traffic efficiency, and enhance safety standards across its national transport network.
