Two autonomous test vehicles will soon begin operating on designated public roads in Zalaegerszeg, marking another milestone in the city’s role as a hub for future mobility technologies, Mayor Zoltán Balaicz announced on social media.
Citing information from István Lerchner, the new project manager at ZalaZONE, the mayor said the public road trials are intended to support the development of electric, demand-responsive and autonomous transport systems, as well as the digital infrastructure required to operate them.
The two test vehicles, which are easily identifiable by their green-and-white and green-and-black liveries and ‘Autonomous Vehicle’ markings, will initially operate along designated routes. Their operational area may gradually expand as testing progresses and experience is gained.
Balaicz stressed that the vehicles will not operate without human supervision. Each test car will have a specially trained safety driver on board at all times, capable of immediately taking control if necessary.
The real-world trials will assess how the autonomous systems respond to various traffic situations, including traffic lights, road markings, pedestrians, cyclists, surrounding vehicles, and unexpected events.
According to the mayor, the long-term objective is to help prepare autonomous technologies for safe commercial deployment, including future robotaxi services.
The project’s technology partner is Mobileye Global Inc., an internationally recognized developer of autonomous driving systems, sensor technology, and cloud-based traffic management. Technical validation is being carried out in cooperation with TÜV Rheinland. According to the announcement, vehicles equipped with Mobileye’s autonomous systems completed more than 200,000 kilometres of accident-free public road testing worldwide in 2025.
Balaicz noted that every public road test is preceded by extensive preparation, with vehicles first undergoing testing on closed tracks before being approved for use on public roads following technical, software and safety assessments, as well as comprehensive risk analyses.
The trials will be conducted in accordance with Hungarian regulations on designated public roads under normal traffic conditions. ZalaZONE will oversee the programme using its own specially trained safety drivers.
The mayor urged motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians to follow normal traffic rules when encountering the test vehicles, avoid deliberately challenging or interfering with them, refrain from following them too closely and help ensure the programme’s safe operation through patience and cooperation.
Balaicz also referred to recent comments by Transport and Investment Minister Dávid Vitézy, who said he strongly supports the deployment of autonomous vehicles and robotaxis, arguing that the technology has the potential to be significantly safer than human drivers. According to the minister, self-driving vehicles could begin appearing on Hungarian roads within the next few years, helping reduce road accidents and fatalities.
The mayor added that Zalaegerszeg has become one of Europe’s leading centres for automotive research, intelligent transport systems, and autonomous mobility in recent years, and said the new testing programme further strengthens the city’s position as an internationally recognized reference site for future transport technologies.
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