KAMAZ has begun developing passenger transport with automated control. The Russian automaker expects to use the experience gained during the operation of autonomous trucks in creating driverless buses.
The project involves a gradual transition from technology testing to passenger transportation. The specific timing of the buses' release on the roads will depend on the readiness of automated driving systems, the results of truck testing, and the development of legislation.
KAMAZ has been refining autonomous control on long-haul trucks for several years. Since 2023, the company's driverless vehicles have been operating on the M-11 "Neva", CKAD, and M-12 "Vostok" highways. In May 2026, two KAMAZ driverless trucks for the first time carried out international cargo transportation between Russia and Kazakhstan. They covered a route of about 3,000 km, with individual sections completed entirely in autonomous mode.
Now, the data and engineering solutions accumulated on cargo routes are planned to be used for passenger vehicles. For buses, the task is more complex: the autonomous system will have to work not only with traffic flow but also with passengers, stops, pedestrians, and urban infrastructure.
Read more on the topic:
- From St. Petersburg to Kazan: Unmanned KamAZ trucks launched on the M-12 highway
- "They performed pirouettes in front of them": Drivers repeatedly tried to "provoke" unmanned KamAZ trucks while driving, but there were no accidents