The aim of the meeting was to gather information about Dutch regulations on the use of autonomous vehicles and to expand professional ties, he told MTI by phone on Thursday.

Within a few months, Hungary plans to introduce regulations enabling a vehicle to take over control from the driver at certain times, though the driver will still be expected to sit in place, he said. Next year, Holland plans to introduce regulations enabling the use of autonomous driving, though several legal hurdles remain, he added.

Lepsényi said he would also hold talks with the head of a centre on driverless technologies at the Eindhoven university’s machine engineering faculty. Hungary will launch English-language engineering courses on autonomous driving next year, he said, adding that this would be a novelty even for the Dutch.

Hungary would like to be at the forefront of autonomous driving and it is in the process of building a test track for autonomous vehicles in Zalaegerszeg, in south-western Hungary.

Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.