The paper presents the results of research on the role of cartographic products and high-definition (HD) mapping in the autonomous vehicle industry. The research methodology includes a review of professional literature and a qualitative interview with an expert from the autonomous transport industry (Blees company). Blees, founded in 2019, specializes in autonomous minibuses, which aim to ensure safe and fast passenger transportation. The company implements advanced and broad transport implementations in cities and municipalities, including Gliwice, Jaworzno, and Sosnowiec. The analysis covers the characteristics of automation levels according to the SAE J3016 standard and technical specifications of sensors, such as LiDAR, RADAR, and GNSS-RTK. A synthetic review of industry applications (TomTom RoadDNA, HERE HD Live Map) and technological solutions was performed with particular emphasis on the SLAM algorithm and Digital Twin Cities concept. The study confirms that contemporary cartography has evolved from human-centred representations into a digital foundation for machine perception, providing a ‘virtual sensor’ for precise localization and safe driving. The results are presented in reference to the practical experiences of the Blees BB-1 autonomous minibus deployment. Cartography has become the digital foundation for perception of autonomous systems. HD maps serve as a virtual sensor with an unlimited field of view. The SLAM algorithm enables navigation in the absence of satellite signals. 128-beam LiDAR allows for mapping of road geometry with a precision down to once centimetre. Precise spatial data supports environmental sustainability and the smooth flow of urban traffic.