Transport ministry mulls AV testing in ports and airports to address worker shortage, boost data collection

KUALA LUMPUR, May 14 — The Transport Ministry is considering plans to encourage autonomous vehicle (AV) testing in closed environments such as ports and airports to expedite the adoption of AVs in Malaysia, its minister, Anthony Loke said today.

Loke said short-distance live operations in ports and airports could strengthen data collection efforts during AV testing without the risk of the vehicles mixing with public traffic.

When asked whether Malaysia could adopt AVs by 2030, Loke told reporters: “It is very hard to put a figure (but) of course, there is a target timeline and so forth.”

Earlier, Loke officiated the seventh edition of the Malaysia Commercial Vehicle Expo (MCVE) at the Mines International Exhibition and Convention Centre in Seri Kembangan today.

Malaysia is targeting the introduction of Level 3 autonomous driving by 2030, with discussions underway between the Digital Ministry and the Road Transport Department since September 2025 on new legislation to govern AV use on roads.

Loke also said AV testing in ports and airports could help address the shortage of workers in the labour-intensive logistics sector.

“Worker shortage is one of the practical problems that the logistics sector is facing. We do not have enough drivers.

“So, this is another way, not only in terms of adopting new technologies but addressing practical solutions,” he said.