Bliq.ai Gets the Green Light for Driverless Cars in Finland
Bliq.ai has won approval to operate its driverless vehicles on public roads in Finland, effective immediately, making it the second EU country after Estonia to grant such permission.
July 15, 2026 – 6:30 pm
Europe now has another autonomous vehicle navigating its roads. Bliq.ai has been cleared by Finland to run its Bliq Driverless vehicles on public roads, marking a significant milestone for the startup in the EU market.
The rollout begins in Helsinki, with a safety driver onboard initially. Testing will commence shortly and continue through the Nordic winter—a deliberate choice to prove their system’s capabilities in one of Europe’s most challenging driving environments.
"This approval brings us closer to making driverless mobility part of everyday life across Europe," stated Julian Glaab, Bliq’s CEO and co-founder. Erik Safonov, who already oversees the company’s operations in the Baltics, will lead the Helsinki launch.
A Unique Approach to Autonomous Vehicles
Unlike most self-driving firms, Bliq does not manufacture its own vehicles. Instead, it converts existing software-defined cars by adding sensors and a compute kit, turning them into driverless ones.
Their current system combines AI-based Level 2 driving with remote human supervision, allowing for quick deployment while maintaining safety. The goal is to make autonomy accessible not just through robotaxis but in the vehicles people and businesses already own.
Finland: A Test Bed for Autonomous Vehicles
Finland’s approval follows Belgium’s successful conduct of Europe’s first Level 4 highway test and Switzerland’s granting of Level 4 approval to Baidu’s Apollo Go. Verne has also launched a Pony.ai robotaxi service in Zagreb.
The progress is steady but cautious, as tighter EU vehicle regulations set higher standards for autonomy. Bliq’s next target is Germany, where the company first established its presence.
For now, Finland serves as a crucial test case, marking another Bliq.ai victory on the European autonomous vehicle landscape.