Bolt to launch driverless taxi programme in Madrid in 2027
Spain is moving toward public-road testing permits for autonomous vehicles as Bolt prepares to begin its first driverless taxi programme in Madrid during 2027. The rollout is intended as a base for wider Western European expansion, with the company targeting French and German cities before the end of next year.
Highlights
- Bolt will launch its autonomous taxi programme using Nvidia's Alpamayo software in at least 25,000 Lucid vehicles in Madrid starting 2027.
- The Madrid pilot leverages a regional permit for limited commercial operations and will initially deploy tens of vehicles next year to gather real-world data.
- Bolt plans to expand the project to France and Germany by the end of next year, positioning Madrid as a key testbed for European AV regulation.
Madrid pilot and deployment plan
As reported by Reuters, Bolt says Madrid is the launch city for its autonomous driving programme because the region has created a testing permit that allows limited commercial operations without full approval.The Estonian ride-hailing company plans to deploy Nvidia's Alpamayo software in at least 25,000 Lucid-manufactured vehicles. Bolt tells Reuters it expects tens of vehicles on the streets of the Spanish capital next year as it uses the pilot to gather real-world data.
Western Europe expansion and technology focus
Bolt is also targeting entry into major French and German cities by the end of next year, extending the Madrid project into a broader Western European expansion strategy.Jevgeni Kabanov, Bolt's head of autonomous driving, says the driving software runs entirely inside the car without connecting to the internet, a design choice aimed at cybersecurity. The programme places Madrid at the center of an early commercial test for autonomous ride-hailing as European cities weigh rules for public-road deployment.
In our earlier coverage of Nvidia’s AI safety discussions, we noted that governments and leading developers are intensifying efforts to manage the risks of rapidly advancing AI systems. The piece highlighted proposals for international coordination channels to address potential AI incidents and pointed to the UK as a possible neutral venue for broader dialogue on cross-border AI safeguards.
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