{
  "id": 15789293,
  "title": "Niulinx: con queste regole addio alla guida autonoma in Italia",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/niulinx-con-queste-regole-addio-alla-guida-autonoma-in-italia",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-20T19:03:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Il Sole 24 Ore",
    "slug": "il-sole-24-ore",
    "url": "https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/niulinx-queste-regole-addio-guida-autonoma-italia-AJzUF8oB"
  },
  "original_language": "it",
  "account": "Niulinx, a spin-off from the Politecnico di Milano focused on developing autonomous vehicles, warns that the new Italian Road Code, if approved as currently drafted, will stall the sector's growth. Luca Foresti, Niulinx CEO, explains that while the new Code acknowledges automated vehicles and permits remote monitoring, a person must always be present. \"The good news,\" Foresti says, \"is the possibility of dedicated autonomous driving software, but the operational mode doesn't work because a person on board hinders transportation service provision. Even after registering the vehicle, the Code would effectively prevent its autonomous operation without a human on board.\" Comparing with developments elsewhere, such as San Francisco's Waymo service, it's clear that total autonomy is necessary for \"smart\" transportation, distinguishing it from traditional taxi, Uber, or similar services. \"I hope the parliamentary debate can modify the text,\" Foresti adds, as once a code is established, subsequent modifications become extremely challenging. Another barrier is the current testing, which cannot be carried out under the proposed rules in Italy. Europe has a different landscape with Germany, France, Slovakia, and Croatia already incorporating autonomous driving modes into their circulation rules, known as Level L4. \"From here until 2028,\" Foresti continues, \"we will seek approval in many countries, and by then, remote service provision using autonomous driving will be possible.\" The current text, still pending reviews by parliamentary committees, the Council of State, and the Unified Conference, poses critical issues for Niulinx. Remote supervision, for example, refers to a decree that doesn't exist. Article 87 subordinates it to \"the decree under Article 290, paragraph 10,\" but that paragraph establishes an Observatory and does not provide for any decree. Until the decree is in place, the supervisor must be on board, without a defined term. The second critical aspect concerns the role of the supervisor, who is \"equal to the driver\" on board or remotely and remains responsible for circulation even when the vehicle operates completely automatically. This prevents any operator from monitoring multiple vehicles simultaneously, a prerequisite for any fleet service. The third critical point is the activities leading to approval, with testing permitted only if \"not directly aimed at approval and production.\" This is counterproductive considering that Regulation (EU) 2022/1426 specifically requires on-road tests to approve an automated driving system. This will ultimately shift tests, investments, and the industrial chain surrounding the project to countries like Germany and Spain, which allow such field tests. \"We will proceed anyway,\" Foresti explains, \"and we have already requested authorization for testing in Germany and Spain, activities that will help gather the necessary data to initiate the approval process, which we expect to conclude by 2028.\" Niulinx, a Politecnico di Milano spin-off based in Cernusco sul Naviglio (MI) and Monaco di Baviera, has already reached 100 employees, growth made possible by a €38 million funding round closed in April, with new investors including Cdp Venture Capital, A2A, Gruppo Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane, and Pirelli. Experiments are also underway in Italy, albeit with greater restrictions than in other countries. Niulinx has signed ad hoc memorandums with municipalities, including Milan and Rome, to begin collaboration and advance this new mode of transportation.",
  "summary": "«Il testo non funziona e con queste regole offrire sul mercato un qualsiasi servizio sarà impossibile». Per Luca Foresti, Ceo di Niulinx, spin off del Politecnico di Milano impegnato nello...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}