Autonomous Small Buses Trials Regulations, 2026

L.N. 104 of 2026

AUTHORITY FOR TRANSPORT IN MALTA ACT

(CAP. 499)

Autonomous Small Buses Trials Regulations, 2026

IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by article 43 of the

Authority for Transport in Malta Act, the Minister responsible for

transport, after consultation with the Authority for Transport in Malta,

has made the following regulations:-

The title of these regulations is the Autonomous Small Buses

Trials Regulations, 2026.

(1)

In these regulations, unless the context otherwise

requires

"Act" means the Authority for Transport in Malta Act;

"authorised person" means an operator, user-in-charge, or a

technical supervisor, authorised by the Authority in accordance

with these regulations;

"Authority" means the Authority for Transport in Malta as

established by the Act;

"autonomous mode" means a state in which an autonomous

small bus is operating solely through the vehicle’s onboard

systems, without being controlled by an individual;

"autonomous small bus" means an M1 or M2 motor vehicle

equipped with an automated driving system which enables it to

operate autonomously, without continuous active human control;

"Certificate of Conformity" means the document issued by

the vehicle manufacturer in accordance with Regulation (EU)

2018/858 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30

May 2018 on the approval and market surveillance of motor

vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and

separate technical units intended for such vehicles, amending

Regulations (EC) No 715/2007 and (EC) No 595/2009 and

repealing Directive 2007/46/EC, certifying that the autonomous

small bus conforms to the approved vehicle type and complies

with all regulatory acts that were applicable at the time of its

production;

"designated operating area" means a geographical area

designated by the Authority for the purposes of conducting

autonomous trials of small buses in accordance with these

regulations;

"M1 motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle designed for the

carriage of passengers, comprising no more than eight (8) seats

in addition to the driver’s seat;

"M2 motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle designed for the

carriage of passengers, comprising more than eight (8) seats in

addition to the driver’s seat, and having a maximum mass not

exceeding five (5) tonnes;

"Member State" means a Member State of the European

Union or member of the European Economic Area;

"operator" means a legal or natural person authorised to

conduct trials of autonomous small buses under these

regulations, and who has been awarded a contract by the

Authority for the operation of public passenger transport services

in accordance with the Act;

"Ordinance" means the Traffic Regulation Ordinance and Cap. 65.

any regulations made thereunder;

"Regulation (EU) 2018/858" means Regulation (EU) 2018/

858 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May

2018 on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles

and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate

technical units intended for such vehicles, amending Regulations

(EC) No 715/2007 and (EC) No 595/2009 and repealing

Directive 2007/46/EC;

"small bus" means an M1 motor vehicle or M2 motor

vehicle;

"technical supervisor" means a natural person responsible

for the remote monitoring the autonomous small bus and

supporting the user-in-charge;

"trial" means the operation of an autonomous small bus for

trial purposes, as authorised in accordance with these

regulations;

"Tribunal" means the Administrative Review Tribunal

established by article 5 of the Administrative Justice Act;

"user-in-charge" means a natural person who is physically

present in the autonomous small bus during trials, and

responsible for assuming manual control of the vehicle where

necessary.

(2) Unless the context otherwise requires, words and phrases

used in these regulations which are not defined in these regulations shall

have the same meaning as assigned to them in the Act and, or the

Ordinance.

(1) No person shall operate an autonomous small bus in

autonomous mode except as authorised in writing by the Authority in

accordance with regulations 4 and 5.

(2) Autonomous small buses may be operated in autonomous

mode solely for trial purposes and as authorised by the Authority in

accordance with regulations 8, 9 and 10.

(3) Unless expressly exempted or modified under these

regulations, any autonomous small bus authorised to operate in terms

of these regulations, and any authorised person, shall comply with all

applicable laws, regulations, and codes governing the use, operation,

safety, or roadworthiness of motor vehicles in Malta.

(1) A person intending to operate an autonomous small

bus for trial purposes shall submit an application with the Authority in

the form and manner specified by the Authority, and shall include the

following

(a)

the operator’s personal or corporate details;

(b) technical specifications of the autonomous small bus,

including its make and model, automated systems, safety

features, and emergency mechanisms, including a manual

override system accessible to the user-in-charge;

(c) description of the remote monitoring system and

intervention protocols;

(d) proof that the autonomous small bus is either covered

by a valid Certificate of Conformity, or has been previously

registered in another Member State, or is of a make and model

that has already been approved for autonomous trials with

passengers on board in another Member State;

(e) proof that the autonomous small bus is roadworthy

and is covered by a valid roadworthiness certificate issued in

accordance with the Motor Vehicle Roadworthiness Test

Regulations;

(f) proof of insurance coverage for third-party liability,

including liability arising from autonomous operation;

(g)

the proposed users-in-charge;

(h)

the proposed technical supervisors;

(i) any additional

information

or

documentation

prescribed by the Authority.

(2) Applicants shall also demonstrate to the satisfaction of the

Authority that they are capable of satisfying all the obligations

established under these regulations.

(3) Applicants who satisfy all the criteria prescribed in sub-

regulations (1) and (2) shall be granted authorisation to conduct trials.

(4) An application for the grant of an authorisation shall be

accompanied by an administrative fee of one thousand euro (€1,000).

(1) An application for authorisation in terms of these Decision on the

granting of an

regulations shall be processed and decided by the Authority.

authorisation.

(2) Where authorisation is granted, the Authority shall provide

the operator with a certified true copy of the authorisation for every

autonomous small bus covered by such authorisation. Such true copy

shall be kept at all times in the said autonomous small bus and shall be

produced by the user-in-charge upon request by an officer of the

Authority.

(3) The decision of the Authority shall be sent by registered

post to the applicant at the address specified in the application.

(4) Where the Authority intends to refuse an application, it

shall give the applicant notice in writing specifying the reasons for its

intention to do so. Every notice of refusal shall state that the applicant

has a right to make representations in writing to the Authority, within

ten (10) days, giving reasons on the basis of which the application

should not be refused. The Authority shall consider any

representations so made before arriving at a final decision. The

Authority shall notify in writing its final decision to the applicant.

(5) When an application is so refused by the Authority, the

applicant may appeal to the Tribunal with respect to such decision

within a period of thirty (30) days from the service of the refusal.

(6)

The authorisation shall specify

(a)

the operator’s details;

(b) the vehicle identification number (VIN) of each

autonomous small bus covered;

(c)

the vehicle plates allotted by the Authority;

(d)

the insurance policy details;

(e)

the personal details of every user-in-charge;

(f)

the personal details of every technical supervisor;

(g)

the designated operating area;

(h) the authorisation shall not exceed a period of twelve

(12) months, and it may be renewed at the discretion of the

Authority;

(i) any other conditions that the Authority may prescribe

at its own discretion.

(7) The authorisation shall not be transferable. Any changes to

the autonomous small bus and, or any authorised person, shall require

prior written approval by the Authority.

(1) The Authority shall maintain a register of all

authorisations granted in accordance with these regulations.

(2) The Authority and any operator authorised under these

regulations shall be permitted to process personal data to the extent

strictly necessary for the purposes of authorisation, supervision, safety

monitoring, compliance, and evaluation of autonomous small bus

trials.

(3) Without prejudice to the generality of sub-regulation (2),

the Authority and authorised operators may establish and maintain

registers, records, and logs relating to

(a) authorised vehicles, operators, drivers, supervisors,

or other designated persons;

(b)

trial activities, routes, and operational parameters;

(c)

incidents, malfunctions, safety events, or deviations;

and

(d)

compliance, inspection, and enforcement activities.

(4) Any processing carried out under this regulation shall be

limited to what is necessary and proportionate and shall be subject to

appropriate technical and organisational measures to ensure

compliance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European

Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of

natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on

the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC

(General Data Protection Regulation).

(5) Registers, records, and logs maintained under this

regulation shall be retained only for such period as is necessary to

fulfil the purposes for which they are processed and in accordance with

the applicable retention schedule.

Authorised trials of autonomous small buses shall only be Trials.

conducted within the designated operating area, and in compliance with

the conditions prescribed in the authorisation or in writing by the

Authority.

The operator shall

Obligations of

operator.

(a) ensure the authorised autonomous small bus operates

in autonomous mode only within the designated operating area

and in accordance with the conditions prescribed in the

authorisation or in writing by the Authority;

(b) maintain at all times insurance coverage for at least

third-party liability;

(c) ensure that every user-in-charge and technical

supervisor have received adequate training in relation to the

operation of autonomous small buses;

(d) ensure uninterrupted communication between the

autonomous small bus and the technical supervisor during a trial;

(e) ensure the technical supervisor has real-time access to

vehicle data, including system status, location, and performance

metres, at all times during trials;

(f) provide the Authority with real-time access to the

location and status data of the autonomous small bus during a

trial;

(g) maintain accurate logs, data, and records of the trials,

and provide the Authority access to them upon request;

(h) maintain accurate records of any incidents, system

disengagements, or emergency interventions, and report them to

the Authority at the earliest opportunity, but in any event not

later than twenty four (24) hours;

(i) ensure the autonomous small bus is regularly

maintained and roadworthy;

(j) comply with all authorisation conditions and all

applicable laws and regulations.

The user-in-charge shall

(a) hold a valid driver’s permit and driver’s tag issued by

the Authority in accordance with the Passenger Transport

Services Regulations;

(b) remain in the vehicle, alert and capable of assuming

manual control of the autonomous small bus at all times during a

trial;

(c) respond to any and all system prompts and warnings,

and to any anomalies;

(d) not engage in any other activity or conduct that may

impair his ability to assume control of the autonomous small bus;

(e) not permit the autonomous small bus to operate in

autonomous mode outside of the designated operating area;

(f)

not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The Technical Supervisor shall

(a) hold a valid driving licence to drive M1 or M2 motor

vehicles, as applicable;

(b) monitor and supervise the autonomous small bus at

all times during trials;

(c)

maintain constant communication with the user-in-

charge;

(d) respond to any and all system prompts and warnings,

including by intervening or instructing the user-in-charge as

necessary;

(e)

not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs;

(f) remain available and alert at all times during trials,

and not engage in any other activity or conduct that may impair

his ability to carry out his obligations.

The Authority shall have the power to

Powers of the

Authority.

(a) inspect autonomous small buses and any data, logs, or

other related documentation;

(b) enter any premises to inspect operations relating to

autonomous small buses;

(c) clamp or remove the autonomous small bus and to take

all necessary actions in terms of the Transport Enforcement S.L. 499.51.

Officers Regulations, wherever the Authority has suspended or

revoked any authorisation granted under these regulations;

(d) identify and publish any designated operating area in

the Gazette.

(1) The Authority may suspend or

revoke

any Suspension and

revocation of

authorisation granted under these regulations where

authorisation.

(a) an

authorised

person

breaches

any

of

these

regulations;

(b) a trial conducted in accordance with these regulations

is deemed by the Authority to pose a threat to public safety;

(c) any information provided in the application is found

to be false or misleading;

(d) the operator no longer satisfies all the conditions

established in the authorisation.

(2) A decision of the Authority to suspend or revoke an

authorisation shall be notified to the operator in writing, specifying the

reasons, and stating whether the suspension or revocation shall have

immediate effect or otherwise.

(3) Where the suspension or revocation is not declared as

having immediate effect, the notice shall state that the operator may,

within ten (10) days from the notification thereof, make

representations in writing to the Authority giving reasons on the basis

of which the authorisation should not be suspended or revoked. The

Authority shall consider any representations so made before arriving at

a final decision. The Authority shall notify in writing its final decision

to the operator, and the said final decision shall become immediately

operative notwithstanding that an appeal may have been filed in

accordance with sub-regulation (4).

(4) The operator whose authorisation is suspended or revoked

shall have a right to appeal to the Tribunal within thirty (30) days from

the final decision of the Authority.

Any person who breaches any provision of these

regulations shall on conviction, and without prejudice to any other

punishment that may be imposed under any other law, be liable to a

fine (multa) not exceeding ten thousand euro (€10,000), or to

imprisonment for a term not exceeding two (2) years, or to both such

fine and imprisonment.

Immediately after the last item of the subsidiary legislation

in the Second Schedule of the Administrative Justice Act, there shall

be added the following new item

"Autonomous Small Buses Trials Regulations, S.L. 499.76,

Inferior Competence".

€0.81