Large-scale testing of driverless buses without passengers in Russia could begin within two to three years, and passenger transportation without a driver within five to seven years. This forecast was given by transport consulting expert Alexey Smirnov in an interview with TASS.

According to him, the transition to regular passenger transportation will be gradual: first on limited and well-controlled routes, then more broadly. It is necessary to consider the dimensions of the bus, the specifics of movement in dense urban traffic, and interaction with pedestrians and other road users. The expert noted that reducing VAT to 10% on driverless transportation is a good support measure that can stimulate market development.

The state expects that by 2035, the share of driverless trucks will reach approximately 19% of road freight turnover, and their fleet will comprise almost 57 thousand vehicles. Reducing the tax burden can be an additional incentive for companies already investing in this area, and at the same time lower barriers for new players to enter the market. According to Smirnov, it is also necessary to improve the regulatory framework, develop infrastructure, and create conditions for scaling driverless transportation.