Driverless lorries on the Kazakh-Chinese border: what it means for Chu Gate

Kazakhstan and China have announced plans to test driverless lorries on routes between the two countries. In time they intend to carry goods that way.

Irad is not a party to this project, and none of the announced routes crosses ISEZ territory. No trials, rules or investment have been announced in Irad.

Even so, freight is what Nurzhan lives on too. On the Kazakh frontier the ISEZ keeps open only Chu Gate, Talas North Terminal, Kum-Shagyl and the Nurzhan rail border station. Trade moves through them, and for now the lorries there are driven by people.

The largest company serving the northern crossings with bonded trucking is Trans-Chuy. ISEZ-registered vehicles are not recognised in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan or Kyrgyzstan, so lorries working abroad run on Kyrgyz plates.

Hauliers and analysts ask what automated corridors could change for jobs and fees at these crossings. There is no answer yet: for now it is only a matter of trials in neighbouring countries.

The editors will follow developments.