Russia Builds a National Ecosystem for Autonomous Transport
Russia is taking confident steps toward creating a full-fledged ecosystem for autonomous transport — becoming one of the world’s leaders and the only country where commercial self-driving operations are legally permitted.
A Confident Move Toward Autonomous Mobility
At the ‘Digital Solutions’ IT Forum, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced that the country is making “a confident step toward building a complete ecosystem for autonomous transport.” Russia now ranks among global leaders in the sector alongside China and the United States — and remains the only nation where commercial driverless transport is legally authorized.
According to Mishustin, the foundation for scaling autonomous technologies will be built on secure communication infrastructure and domestically developed software. These technologies are being designed to support self-driving systems across multiple domains — from urban and maritime transport to railways and cargo logistics.
From Pilot Zones to Nationwide Deployment
Moscow and St. Petersburg are already demonstrating high readiness levels. Pilot zones, smart traffic lights, and advanced monitoring systems are forming the groundwork for driverless operations. Currently, around 90 autonomous trucks are operating in Russia — a number expected to grow rapidly as technology matures and legislation evolves.
Mishustin emphasized that the expansion of unmanned transport also drives the growth of the domestic IT sector. To strengthen this foundation, the government continues to support technology companies through tax incentives, reduced insurance rates, and preferential VAT policies. Expenses on Russian software can even be written off with an additional coefficient, encouraging greater investment in local solutions.
Digitalization as a Foundation, Not a Goal
Mishustin highlighted that autonomous mobility cannot exist without a robust IT industry. These government measures, he said, ensure sustainability in the tech sector and help companies accelerate innovation.
Russia is consistently building a next-generation digital economy — with homegrown technologies, infrastructure, and skilled professionals. Autonomous vehicles, domestic software, and platform-based solutions are becoming interconnected parts of a single ecosystem. Digitalization, Mishustin concluded, is not an end in itself but a natural foundation for economic growth and technological independence.
