Public transportation trial incorporates self-driving vehicles for public use - Testing Autonomous Vehicles in Regular City Traffic: Initial Trials Underway
Autonomous Vehicles Debut in Public Transport Pilot Project in Southern Hesse
Autonomous vehicles are poised to transport passengers in southern Hesse for the first time as part of a pilot project named "Kira." The initiative will be presented in Langen, Offenbach district, on Monday at 10 am. The collaborative effort is led by Deutsche Bahn and the Rhine-Main Transport Association (RMV). Passengers in this nationwide first public transport project will be able to ride in these vehicles.
For the project, a select group of test participants will be onboard. An on-demand offer is planned, similar to ride-hailing platform Uber, allowing passengers to order a car via an app. The vehicles will be operating in a defined area, initially in Langen and Egelsbach, Offenbach district, with expansion to include Darmstadt later in 2025.
On board, a safety driver will remain for emergency situations. However, the autonomous vehicle will handle all driving maneuvers, reaching speeds of up to 50 km/h in the city and 100 km/h on the highway. The vehicles are six modified first-generation Nio ES8 SUVs, equipped with advanced autonomous driving systems provided by Intel-owned Mobileye. The system includes high-definition maps and advanced sensors.
The Kira project aims to make local transport more attractive and flexible by offering autonomous, on-demand rides integrated into the existing transport network. Funding for the project comes from the German Federal Ministry of Transport, with additional contributions from RMV, totaling approximately €2.2 million.
[Background]The Kira project serves as a significant milestone in Germany's public transport landscape, testing the integration of autonomous vehicles into mainstream public transport. Similar projects are underway in Hamburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, but Kira is the first to involve Level 4 autonomous vehicles with passengers on public roads in Germany.
- The autonomous vehicles in the Kira project are designed to receive vocational training from Mobileye, an advanced autonomous driving system, to navigate the streets of southern Hesse.
- Upon the successful implementation and acceptance of autonomous vehicles in public transportation projects like Kira, there is potential for vocational training programs in the technology sector to expand within the community, including the finance, industry, and transportation industries.
