Salvini’s sovereignty agenda does not extend to self-driving cars. He praises Tesla, but his Code hinders Italian projects

The League leader’s admiration for Teslas somewhat overshadows his admiration for Italian cars. “A very positive and constructive conversation with Elon Musk today,” wrote Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport Matteo Salvini, in English, on X. “Italy is looking with great interest at the opportunities offered by assisted driving technologies, with a focus on innovation and road safety, and supports the EU’s swift approval of Tesla’s Autopilot. Thank you for the discussion, Elon,” he concluded. "It's interesting that he says these things about Musk whilst, at the same time, his ministry has drafted a Highway Code that stands in our way," Luca Foresti observes with bitter irony in Il Foglio. Founded in April 2026, Niulinx – of which he is the chief executive – is a start-up linked to the Politecnico di Milano, with 100 engineers working on the development of a Level 4 automated driving system. This is a system in which the vehicle is capable of driving autonomously without human intervention and, if the driver does not respond, can safely manage the situation – such as in the case of autonomous taxis (which are becoming increasingly popular in America but also in China). The aim, Foresti explains, "is to enter the market between late 2028 and early 2029. But the Highway Code must change". 

The measure recently approved by the Council of Ministers introduces the concept of software being able to drive a car. “It’s good news, but it’s worded illogically.” Why? “It states that there must always be a driver inside the car, which is therefore a logical contradiction to autonomous driving, as the car must also be able to drive itself,” Foresti points out. Responsibility for the vehicle is left with the driver on board, thereby equating the remote operator with a traditional driver, even when the car is moving on its own. “It makes no sense at all; who on earth would agree to get into a car and take responsibility for things they aren’t doing? It would be better, instead, to extend compulsory third-party liability insurance to self-driving cars as well.” That is, the compulsory insurance that covers damage caused to third parties as a result of using the vehicle. “Obviously, this shifts the issue to the insurance companies, who must decide whether to cover self-driving cars, but we are already in talks with them to work out how to do this.”

Another provision, however, throws a spanner in the works of autonomous driving. “According to the text, trials may only be carried out if they are not directly aimed at type-approval and mass production.” And it is precisely on the issue of type-approval that Salvini makes a rather significant blunder, according to the CEO. “In the tweet, he addresses the EU even though he shouldn’t. It is not Europe that decides on type-approval, but individual national governments.” Not to mention “the references to subsequent rules and decrees, or committees mentioned in the text, which will significantly prolong the process. If it is not amended,” he warns, “we will find ourselves, for an indefinite period, unable to have fleets of self-driving vehicles on the roads in Italy.”

As a result, Italian companies involved in autonomous driving have to relocate abroad to carry out type-approval tests, where the regulations are more suitable. “In the next few days we will receive authorisation to carry out trials in Spain and Germany as well, and we will begin operations there too. We currently have trials underway in Italy (Cernusco, Brescia and Milan), but the risk is that the market will only open up abroad and not here. This Code,” argues Foresti, “poses a competition problem for Italy”. 

Against its own interests, incidentally. Among Niulinx’s investors is, in fact, the Italian state, with €10 million provided by CDP Venture Capital. The 38-million-round closed by the company in April (the largest Italian investment in autonomous driving) also saw participation from Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane, Pirelli and A2A. “This is, moreover, a technology that is critical from a national security perspective. We’re talking here about putting thousands, if not millions, of self-driving cars on the road, equipped with sensors, which can therefore monitor our roads and bring traffic to a standstill if someone in a position of authority decides to do so. So it’s very important that the ‘brain’ of these self-driving cars is based in Europe.” And not in Austin, Texas, in the hands of Salvini’s favourite entrepreneur. Foresti, does the endorsement of Musk raise any suspicions? “No comment”.