Particle.news
Download on the App Store
3 ARTICLES
·
last wk.

First Autonomous Minibus Pilot in Rural Germany to Begin Testing in July

The Mecklenburg-Vorpommern project, backed by €5 million in funding, aims to address driver shortages and transition to fully driverless operations by 2028.

Image
Enthüllung des autonom fahrenden Kleinbusses: Er soll in Zukunft als fahrerloser Rufbus auf den Straßen des Landkreises Ludwigslust-Parchim getestet werden.

Overview

  • Testing of the first Level 4 autonomous Rufbus in the Ludwigslust-Parchim district will start in July 2025 with a safety driver onboard.
  • The initiative, managed by Verkehrsgesellschaft Ludwigslust-Parchim (VLP), plans to expand routes in 2026, introduce passenger services with an acceptance driver in 2027, and achieve fully driverless operations by 2028.
  • The minibus, equipped with cameras, radar, and laser sensors by Motor AI, will initially operate at speeds up to 70 km/h, monitored in real-time by a control center.
  • The project addresses a significant driver shortage, with current staffing constraints causing up to 20% of Rufbus bookings to be canceled despite employing 72 drivers.
  • Funded by over €5 million from federal and state sources, the pilot aligns with Germany’s broader strategy to transition autonomous transport from trials to regular operations starting in 2026.