Slovakia will test autonomous vehicles. ELEVATE Slovakia signs an agreement with WeRide through DiusAi

The cooperation paves the way for the testing and gradual deployment of autonomous vehicles in Slovakia. The main ambition is to strengthen Slovakia's competitiveness, support the development of its innovation ecosystem and create new opportunities in research, technology and smart mobility. In order to accelerate the start of the cooperation, the agreement was signed in the initial phase by DiusAi on behalf of the ELEVATE Slovakia initiative.

The project is being implemented as part of the ELEVATE Slovakia initiative, which brings together the public sector, academia and private companies to create a safe and regulatory sustainable environment for autonomous transport. The first autonomous vehicles are expected to arrive in Slovakia this spring, with pilot testing planned for the first half of 2026.

They will take place in a controlled environment and in accordance with European legislation. DiusAi, on behalf of the ELEVATE Slovakia initiative, conducted more than 12 months of market research, based on which WeRide was selected as a technology partner with an emphasis on safety, technological maturity and scalability of solutions. The pilot phase of the project will start in Bratislava, later expanding to Košice and the High Tatras. The long-term goal is to enable the commercial operation of fully autonomous driverless vehicles, after meeting all legislative and safety conditions.

WeRide will deploy its portfolio of autonomous vehicles in Slovakia, including autonomous taxis, buses, vans and cleaning vehicles, which have the potential to support public transport, parcel logistics and urban municipal services.

The Ministry of Transport of the Slovak Republic, the capital city of Bratislava, the Slovak Academy of Sciences and the Slovak Post will also participate in the project. The Ministry of Transport will ensure professional supervision of the testing so that it is carried out safely, transparently and in accordance with Slovak and European rules.

"I see the signing of the contract as the beginning of a process that will allow Slovakia to responsibly and controlledly test autonomous technologies in transport. It will allow us to verify technologies transparently, with state participation and with an emphasis on the public interest."

— Jozef Ráž, Minister of Transport of the Slovak Republic

The goal of the project was to select a solution that is technologically advanced, secure, and scalable – suitable for pilot projects and their possible future expansion.

"For us, cooperation with WeRide is the first step towards Slovakia not only adopting these technologies from abroad, but also being able to actively test them, professionally evaluate them and gradually integrate them into its own environment. We realize that the path to autonomous transport requires time, extensive testing, open professional discussion and gradual adjustments to the legislative framework. This is precisely why we consider the ELEVATE Slovakia initiative to be key."

— Patrik Tkáč, founder and CEO of DiusAi

"WeRide's global expansion is gaining momentum as more governments and cities move forward with large-scale autonomous mobility deployment. With plans to have over 2,600 active Robotaxi by the end of 2026 and tens of thousands of vehicles worldwide by 2030, Slovakia represents a strategic next step in expanding our global presence to 12 countries. By working with governments early, we aim to become their preferred partner and set the standard for the safe and scalable commercialization of autonomous vehicles."

— Dr. Tony Han, Founder and CEO of WeRide

In addition to taxis, autonomous buses, logistics and municipal vehicles will also be tested in the capital, which have the potential to support public transport, parcel logistics and city services.

"Testing autonomous technologies is an interesting opportunity for companies and new jobs in the field of AI and innovation. In addition, this opportunity can bring us real data and experience that can be used in urban transport planning."

— Ján Mazúr, Chief City Strategist of the City of Bratislava

DiusAi will provide financing for the initial pilot projects and will also act as a technology and implementation partner, responsible for system integration and local operational support.

Chinese company WeRide is entering the Slovak market as its fourth European market after France, Belgium and Switzerland. It sees Slovakia as a country with potential for responsible testing of autonomous technologies in the field of mobility and public services.