Driverless Taxis to Hit Polish Streets as Regulations Ease

Poland is on the cusp of a significant technological leap in transportation with the upcoming removal of regulatory barriers for autonomous vehicles. Companies like Eternis, a major supplier to ride-sharing platforms such as Uber and Bolt, are poised to introduce self-driving taxis to Polish streets. This development, expected by the end of June, marks a pivotal moment for the country's integration into the global autonomous vehicle race.

“

Autonomous vehicles are a new segment that we are starting to be interested in. This is a topic we are closely watching and to which we will devote a lot of energy.

Eternis CEO Kamil Leszczyński expressed enthusiasm for this new segment, stating that the company is closely monitoring and dedicating significant energy to the development of autonomous technology. He highlighted that their partners are heavily invested in this field, and Eternis aims to collaborate with them to bring these vehicles to European markets, including Poland. This proactive stance underscores Poland's ambition to not be left behind in this rapidly evolving sector.

While Western Europe, the US, and parts of Asia have already seen autonomous taxis in operation, Poland has faced regulatory stagnation. The upcoming legislative changes are expected to help Poland catch up. Leszczyński drew a parallel to the adoption of electric vehicles, noting that while Poland initially lagged, it has since accelerated its adoption. He anticipates a similar trajectory for autonomous vehicles, suggesting that the "revolution" will eventually reach Poland.

“

Sooner or later, this revolution will come to Poland.

The article also touches upon the broader context of autonomous vehicle development, mentioning collaborations like Nvidia's with Bolt and Bolt's own plans with Pony.ai and Stellantis. While Poland's specific role in these global initiatives remains uncertain, Eternis's commitment to testing and deployment signals a strong local push. The success of these ventures will also depend on factors beyond regulation, such as digital and physical infrastructure, including map quality and connectivity, as noted by Uber's conditions for expansion.

“

In this regard, our market has never been advanced, we have always lagged behind the West. Then, however, the development of such vehicles accelerated, and there are more and more "electrics" on the streets. It will be the same with autonomous cars.