eCabs CEO Matthew Bezzina Urges Malta To Act Early On Driverless Vehicle Regulation

Malta has a clear opportunity to position itself as a European testing ground for autonomous vehicles, according to Matthew Bezzina, CEO of eCabs Technologies, who spoke to Malta Daily about the island’s potential role in shaping the future of driverless mobility.

“In the United States and parts of Asia, autonomous vehicles are already operating at commercial scale,” Bezzina explained. “Europe remains fragmented, slowed by lengthy approval processes and unresolved questions around safety, liability and oversight.”

He argued that Malta has successfully built economic pillars in the past by moving early in highly regulated industries such as gaming and maritime services. “We offered clear licensing frameworks and predictable oversight. That attracted investment and created long-term sectors of growth,” he said.

Bezzina believes autonomous mobility could be next, but only if Malta acts decisively. He highlighted the growing consensus within the international taxi and mobility sector that driverless vehicles will be introduced gradually through hybrid fleets, operating alongside human-driven cars rather than replacing them overnight.

To capitalise on this shift, he proposed the creation of a regulatory sandbox, a controlled environment where autonomous vehicles can be tested under real-world conditions. Such a framework would allow authorities to monitor safety performance, develop insurance and liability structures, and refine approval processes before wider deployment.

“Malta cannot compete on manufacturing,” Bezzina said. “But on governance and regulatory expertise, we can move faster than larger jurisdictions.”

If the island acts now, he added, it could help shape Europe’s autonomous vehicle framework rather than waiting for others to define it and place Malta as a leading figure in yet another growing industry.

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