Slovakia
Strong manufacturing, weak voice in the rules
Slovak industry knows how to build cars. The open question is whether it will also have a seat at the table where the rules are written and the software is developed.
In March 2025, the European Commission announced the ECAVA alliance (European Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Alliance) and formally launched it in September. Its role is to coordinate development and investment in software-defined vehicles, automotive hardware, artificial intelligence and data, as well as the deployment of autonomous vehicles, while providing input for European legislation.
In parallel, an initiative is developing an open European software platform for SDVs, with the goal of bringing it into series production by 2030. Those who do not get involved now may later find themselves simply adopting decisions made elsewhere.
Meanwhile, Slovakia is working on legislation for fully automated vehicles. An amendment to three laws is intended to create a pathway from testing outside public roads to the commercial transport of passengers and goods. Slovakia could therefore become one of the first countries in the region with a complete legal framework for autonomous vehicle operation.
How it works step by step →
Slovakia in the digital transformation
1.07 mil.
cars produced in 2025
196
vehicles per 1,000 inhabitants
2030
target for the European SDV platform
Decisions about the next generation of the automotive industry are increasingly being made outside factory halls.
