Autonomous taxis to roam Budapest streets this year

Two autonomous taxis will begin ferrying passengers around Budapest this year, the government’s artificial intelligence commissioner has announced.

Autonomous taxis from Q3 or Q4 in Budapest

László Palkovics told Infórádió that the pair of gleaming new vehicles will hit the roads in the second half of 2026. The trial, run by ZalaZone (the operator of Hungary’s largest test track for autonomous cars), will deploy two Level 4 self-driving taxis, shadowed by “mapping” support vehicles.

These pioneers will not merely shuttle passengers from A to B. Their mission is to probe how Budapest’s drivers, locals and tourists behave amid the capital’s unpredictable traffic.

Safety drivers at the wheel, for now

Elek Nagy, chairman of the Budapest Chamber of Commerce and Industry and owner of Főtaxi, has expressed willingness to partner with the project, potentially involving Főtaxi or Uber. Palkovics confirmed discussions with Mr Nagy, paving the way for collaboration.

Initial safety protocols will be rigorous: a human safety driver will ride shotgun, ready to intervene. Locals will be able to hail the taxis via apps, just like conventional cabs, hence the outreach to established ride-hailing firms.

Hybrid future for Hungary’s cabbies?

Nagy has previously predicted that autonomous vehicles could capture a hefty slice of Budapest’s taxi market within five to eight years.

Yet Norbert Váczi, co-chairman of the Budapest Taxi Association, struck a more cautious note on Spirit FM. He foresees a hybrid model: robotaxis tackling straightforward, predictable routes, while human drivers cater to premium and specialist needs. The rollout, he warned, will be a long haul, with careful attention to the fate of small-scale cabbies. Check out additional details in our previous article on the issue.

• Watch out! You could easily end up in a Budapest taxi driven by someone who has no licence or even basic schooling