Yandex to launch autonomous taxi in Moscow

In February 2022, the company Yandex will begin testing the autonomous taxi service in Moscow. The Government of the Russian Federation resolved interagency disagreements hindering the launch of autonomous transportation services on the territory of Russia, according to «Ведомости».

Initially, the cars will run along predefined routes in the capital’s Yasenevo district. Passengers will be able to order the service via the Yandex.Go app. The fare will be the same as for a conventional taxi.

Initially, access to the service will be opened to users who submitted an application to participate in testing. The company said it had already received more than 10,000 registrations.

Under the Experimental Legal Regime (ELR) program, “Yandex” must operate under the Moscow government’s oversight, transmit information about the trials and report on violations involving unmanned vehicles.

The final ELR text will be published in January 2022. Twenty days after the document is made public, the company will be able to begin testing robotaxi.

Under the program, autonomous taxis will be deployed on 18 streets in Moscow, the Skolkovo area, Innopolis (Tatarstan) and the Sirius Center (Krasnodar Krai). During movement, an operator must be present in the cabin. However, in Skolkovo and Innopolis, the vehicles will be able to move without a testing driver.

Earlier, in September 2021, Yandex opened registrations to participate in testing the robotaxi service in Moscow.

In August, Morgan Stanley analysts valued Yandex’s autonomous business at $7 billion and described it as one of the leaders in the global market.

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