Buenos Aires authorizes autonomous vehicle pilot tests

The Government of the City of Buenos Aires has authorized pilot testing for SAE Level 4 autonomous vehicles and ground drones on public roads. The measure, formalized through resolution 170/SECT/26, aims to evaluate how these technologies perform in real circulation conditions to inform future regulations.

Implementation will follow a progressive scheme. During the initial phase, autonomous passenger vehicles must have a trained person on board capable of taking immediate control in the event of a system failure. This human oversight requirement may only be removed in later stages if providers demonstrate satisfactory technical performance and meet all insurance and safety standards.

The regulation also permits the testing of autonomous ground drones for logistics and public services, including last-mile delivery, cleaning, maintenance, and urban inspection. Unlike the passenger cars, these robotic devices are authorized to begin trials without an on-board operator from the start, provided they meet established technical standards.