Autonomous Transportation in Practice: PORTOS Presented Current Legislation and Challenges Facing the Entire Sector
17 \ 06 \ 2026
The PORTOS law firm presented the latest legislative developments in the field of autonomous transportation to company representatives. The afternoon discussion focused on the current state of automation in transportation, its safety, data, and regulation. Experts from the legal field and other disciplines presented the topic from the perspective of both Czech and European legislation; among other things, they discussed the Defective Products Directive and its implications for manufacturers and supply chains. The event took place at the Czech Club in the Municipal House.
Jan Fical, a partner and expert advisor on autonomous mobility at the PORTOS law firm, provided an overview of the current legislative framework at the start of the event. As of January 1, 2026, the Czech Republic will have at least a framework legal regulation for Level 3 vehicles. The levels of automation are based on the SAE International classification.
“Every additional level of technology is, of course, a milestone in terms of autonomous mobility, but Level 3 represents a psychological and legal turning point. It is the final intermediate stage before the driver becomes merely a passive passenger. In fact, the driver no longer needs to pay attention to the road and the situation around them—though this is still largely theoretical, because if the car issues a warning, the driver is required to “immediately” take control of the vehicle. “One could therefore say, figuratively speaking, that once the signal sounds, the driver remains fully responsible for the vehicle,” said Jan Fical, a partner at the law firm PORTOS.
However, legislation for Level 4 vehicles already exists at the EU level, as well as in some EU member states. This stage of automation is already very close to full driving automation. Petr Válek, commercial director of the consulting firm ACCESS EU, then presented the current European legislation. He also discussed opportunities for Czech companies to participate in current EU policies on autonomous transportation.
“Following the successful relaxation of regulations on automated parking, the European Union is now fundamentally revising the vehicle approval system so that fully autonomous driving becomes the norm rather than being limited to exceptions,” Válek emphasized. “A crucial window of opportunity is now opening for companies. This is the perfect moment to actively engage in the process and shape emerging European legislation through upcoming public consultations and by joining the ECAVA alliance,” he added.
The Directive on Liability for Defective Products is also closely related to the topic of autonomous transportation. Barbora Vlachová, a senior attorney at PORTOS, further elaborated on the implications of its implementation for manufacturers and supply chains, particularly in the area of software products. She specifically highlighted an important change: software will now be considered a product.
Alongside the attorneys from PORTOS, the event featured Tereza Čížková, head of the independent department for new technologies and innovations in transportation at the Ministry of Transportation; Tomáš Tichý, IT director and deputy director of CENDIS; and Zdeněk Lokaj, deputy head of the Department of Transportation Telematics at the Faculty of Transportation Sciences, Czech Technical University in Prague. Together, they participated in a panel discussion on the practical aspects of autonomous mobility.
PORTOS, advokátní kancelář s.r.o. is one of the largest and oldest law firms in the Czech Republic. Comprehensive legal advice is provided by a team of more than 170 experts who specialize in their clients’ specific business sectors. Over the course of 33 years of operation in the Czech legal market, it has earned a reputation as a professional and reliable law firm that ranks among the leading players in the fields of law and business.
It was also published on the Česká justice website.
Media Contact:
Mikoláš Rec, Communications Manager
Phone: +420 736 627 789
Email: rec@portos.cz
