Transport Committee initiates acceleration for e-charging infrastructure, longer vehicle inspection intervals, and improvements for aviation Mobility Minister Hanke: "The federal government is working tirelessly on improvements in the mobility sector"
Today's Transport Committee brought numerous amendments that will bring significant improvements to the mobility sector. These include changes to the Federal Roads Act and the Motor Vehicle and Aviation Act - all mentioned amendments can now be passed in time at the upcoming National Council plenary session before the summer break. The federal government and the transport spokespersons of the three coalition parties are thus setting a strong signal for a modern and everyday-oriented mobility policy.
Mobility Minister Peter Hanke on this: "With these many important decisions, we demonstrate: The federal government is working tirelessly on improvements in the mobility sector. The extension of the inspection intervals benefits hundreds of thousands of people who will soon have to undergo the 57a inspection less frequently. The changes in the Federal Roads Act enable us to massively expand the charging infrastructure on highways and express roads, and the amendment of the Aviation Act brings very important reliefs for staff in the aviation industry and clarifications for drone pilots. I am happy that the three coalition partners are working together here!"
Joachim Schnabl, ÖVP transport spokesperson: "With our initiatives as transport spokespersons, we are implementing a comprehensive mobility package for the economy, safety, and aviation as a coalition. The extensive amendment to the Motor Vehicle Act represents a broad relief and innovation package. Especially the tonnage increases for heavy-duty trucks with heavy equipment are an important relief lever for the domestic construction and transport industry. They reduce costs for companies and secure regional jobs and value creation. Additionally, the simplified regulations for Ukrainian vehicle owners will expire. In the future, there will be no distinction between all other people residing in Austria. Therefore, the inspection ensures safety and comprehensibility. And with the amendment of the Aviation Act, we are providing practical strengthening and economic improvement for domestic airports."
Dominik Oberhofer, NEOS transport spokesperson: "With the amendment of the inspection intervals, we achieve two important objectives: We noticeably relieve citizens in everyday life and simultaneously end unnecessary gold plating. In the future, we will adhere to the European guidelines with the 4-2-2-2-1 system, instead of exceeding them. This means less bureaucracy and less effort for people - without compromising traffic safety."
Wolfgang Moitzi, SPÖ transport spokesperson: "With today's resolutions, we are taking two important steps for modern and fair mobility. We are creating the conditions for the expansion of e-charging infrastructure along highways and express roads. So far, there have been no charging options at ASFINAG rest areas - we are changing that. In the future, a fast charging option should be available at least every 25 kilometres, making e-mobility even more suitable for everyday use. At the same time, we ensure more legal certainty in the reliability checks of airport staff. If someone does not pass such a check, they currently lose access to their workplace and often face professional ruin. In the future, affected individuals will have a clear right to appeal against this decision. Security and the rule of law must go hand in hand."
Longer "inspection" intervals: Amendment of the Motor Vehicle Act
With the amendment of the Motor Vehicle Act, the federal government modernises the system of recurring vehicle inspection and simultaneously reduces the time expenditure for drivers. The core of the reform is the extension of the inspection intervals for the § 57a inspection badge from the previous 3:2:1 system to the new 4:2:2:2:1 system. In the first ten years, Austrians will have to go for inspection three fewer times. Workshops are also relieved, as the mandatory retention of a second copy of the inspection report is eliminated. The planned entry into force is 19.5.2027 - initially, this was planned for October 2026, but numerous affected bodies, including ÖAMTC and ARBÖ, expressed concerns that this entry into force was too short-notice for the necessary technical and organisational preparation work.
These changes create tangible relief for citizens and businesses. Less time expenditure, clearer regulations, and longer inspection intervals mean greater efficiency and less everyday burdens. The amendment thus combines debureaucratisation and modernisation with a high safety standard and simultaneously strengthens Austria's economic location.
Boost for e-mobility: Amendment of the Federal Roads Act
With the amendment of the Federal Roads Act, the federal government is already creating the conditions for faster and more demand-driven expansion of charging infrastructure along the major road network in summer 2026. In the future, charging facilities can also be built within so-called protection zones if this is necessary for comprehensive coverage. This continues the government's efforts to expand charging infrastructure in the sense of the eMOVE Austria programme.
The expansion of a powerful charging infrastructure is a central component for the success of the mobility transition. The new regulation reduces existing legal hurdles that previously impeded or delayed investments. This creates more planning security for infrastructure projects, strengthens the economic location, and ensures that electromobility becomes even more attractive and suitable for everyday use.
Federal government advances automated driving
With the amendment, the federal government also creates the legal conditions to push automated driving in Austria forward. In the future, driverless vehicles can be tested legally in the framework of test operations. For this, the existing regulation authority is expanded, and the basis for an adjustment of the Automated Driving Regulation is created, which regulates the specific conditions for these tests. The concrete formulation of the Automated Driving Regulation is currently being developed and will soon be up for review. This promotes innovations in the mobility sector and simultaneously ensures that new technologies can be tested under clear legal conditions and high safety standards.
Amendment of the Aviation Act
The present amendment of the Aviation Act (LFG) brings an important modernisation to the Austrian aviation industry. The core of the reform is the long overdue adjustment of reliability checks for employees in security-relevant areas in air traffic.
Again and again in recent years, cases have arisen where long-term employees lost their access to the security area—and thus often their workplace—because of excessive rules. Authorisations were often denied in the past due to outdated data or mere notifications—without ever leading to a conviction.
The amendment of the Aviation Act now adapts this practice to modern standards and simultaneously enhances the legal protection of employees, without compromising flight safety. In the future, mere suspicions will not automatically lead to negative checks if they only concern minor offences. The new guidelines were developed in close coordination between the Ministry of the Interior (DSN), the Ministry of Justice, representatives of the aviation industry, and employee organisations. They ensure a fair balance between the rights of employees and the high safety requirements of aviation.
With the amendment of the Aviation Act, the federal government also establishes clear conditions for the construction of ground facilities at airports. In the future, there will be greater clarity regarding the authority's responsibilities, and procedures should become faster and simpler. In the future, non-aviation facilities may only be approved in justified individual cases and under strict consideration of air traffic and airport operation safety. The unrestricted construction of airports is explicitly prevented. Furthermore, all required permits according to provincial building and spatial planning regulations remain unchanged. This creates legal certainty without restricting the protection of residents or existing approval processes.
The new regulations for drone operations, which now receive a modern regulation for the location, are also central. This includes the creation of geographic areas where drone operations can be prohibited for safety reasons. Additionally, the foundation for so-called "U-Spaces" was created, which are needed, for example, for drone trials.
Furthermore, it is clarified that blanket insurance for drone operators does not cause coverage gaps but can even prevent them because not every single aircraft has to be listed separately in the insurance contract. This legally anchors practical and already tested solutions without compromises on safety or victim protection.