LISBON, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Portugal's government on Thursday approved a decree-law authorizing tests of autonomous vehicles on public roads, making it one of a limited number of European countries to establish a legal framework for such trials.
The measure aims to attract foreign investment and promote innovation in the autonomous mobility sector, the government said.
The legislation sets out licensing requirements for drivers, system operators, and vehicles, with strict safety standards as a prerequisite for autonomous vehicles operating on public roads.
Earlier this month, Tesla announced it had received approval to deploy its supervised autonomous driving system in the Netherlands, marking the first authorization of the technology in Europe.
Other major players - including U.S. firm Waymo, ride-hailing company Lyft, and Chinese tech firm Baidu - are also advancing autonomous vehicle plans in Europe. ■
