Driverless electric bus on Munich's route 178 opens to registered test passengers

A self-driving bus on Munich's route 178 between Petuelring and Freimanner Hölzl is entering a pilot phase in which registered test users can ride the driverless electric vehicle themselves.

The bus is being trialled in public transport as part of the research project MINGA. Stadtwerke München (SWM) and Münchner Verkehrsgesellschaft (MVG) are carrying out the tests with MAN Truck & Bus, with the city's Mobility Department leading the consortium.

Since September the bus has been running on route 178 without passengers. This phase was used to collect data and to bring the autonomous driving system into operation.

To mark the start of the pilot, journalists were invited to ride an autonomous route bus for the first time on a press trip. The trip was scheduled for 3 November at 2.30pm, starting from Autobus Oberbayern at Heidemannstraße 220.

The invitation came from Georg Dunkel, head of the Mobility Department, Sinaida Cordes, an authorised officer at SWM/MVG, and Dr Frederik Zohm, board member for research and development at MAN Truck & Bus.