Baku
A more advanced taxi regulation system powered by artificial intelligence is being implemented in Azerbaijan, designed to increase transparency and accountability in urban transportation.
According to transport expert Elmeddin Muradli, speaking on Baku TV’s “Yeni bir səhər” (A New Morning) program, the new system ensures that only registered drivers can operate the specific vehicle they’ve been approved for. If a driver is registered in the system, their car cannot be used by another driver, preventing unauthorized substitutions.
“The system has already been launched by one of the local taxi operators, even though it was developed by the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport,” Muradli said. “The company needs passengers’ cooperation to enforce the new rules and improve service quality.”
Passenger Feedback Will Influence Driver Ratings
The new platform is not just about AI-based vehicle-driver verification—it also introduces a tighter feedback loop between passengers and service providers. Taxi operators plan to rely more heavily on customer reviews to assess driver performance.
“If a driver provides poor service, passengers are asked not to give them a five-star rating just out of courtesy,” Muradli added. “Unfortunately, many customers still rate drivers positively on request, even if they were unhappy with the ride—only to later voice complaints on social media.”
A New Standard in Ride-Hailing Oversight
This digital transformation marks a shift toward data-driven taxi governance, enabling real-time monitoring of drivers, vehicles, and customer feedback. Authorities and companies alike hope the system will reduce illegal operations, improve customer experience, and make Azerbaijan’s urban transport system more efficient and accountable.
The Ministry of Digital Development and Transport is expected to further expand the platform in collaboration with all licensed taxi services in the coming months.
