MAN Lion has been testing its automated City 12 E bus on the 178 bus route in Munich, Germany, since September. Now, MAN Truck & Bus, Stadtwerke München (SWM), MVG and Munich’s Department of Mobility are moving onto the next stage and will be beginning trials with test users.
From November 17, participants will be able to ride the autonomous e-bus between Petuelring and Freimanner Hölzl, from Monday to Friday, in this next phase of the MINGA project.
German Federal Minister of Transport Steffen Bilger said, “Autonomous driving can contribute to high-performance local public transport. That is why we at the Federal Ministry of Transport support innovative projects such as MINGA, which we are funding with around €13m (US$14.5m).”
More than 2,000 people have already pre-registered for a ride in the autonomous MAN e-bus, with operations with test users scheduled to run until June 2027. Until then, interested passengers can ride in the 12-meter MAN Lion’City 12 E, which was automated by MAN and its technology partner ADASTEC. Safety drivers remain on board at all times throughout the project and can take control of the vehicle immediately if needed.
“With the first test rides, passengers can now experience our technology in everyday use. This is a decisive step. Alongside safe and reliable technology, autonomous vehicles also need people’s trust, and that is what we want to earn,” commented Dr Frederik Zohm, executive board member for research and development at MAN Truck & Bus.
“Technical testing is becoming a service that passengers can experience under real-world conditions. This gives us valuable insights into how autonomous buses can be integrated into local public transport safely, practically and with the customer in mind,” added Sinaida Cordes, Authorized Signatory at SWM and MVG.
“The key question for us is whether and how autonomous buses can be scaled up and integrated reliably and cost-effectively into efficient scheduled services in future. With the automated 12-metre bus, we are trialling for the first time a vehicle size that has the potential for high-capacity use in regular bus operations.”
Register for a ride
The autonomous e-bus runs as an additional vehicle on the existing route 178 and simulates future use in regular scheduled service under conditions that are as realistic as possible. The route is particularly well suited to exercise as it combines a range of traffic situations, including main roads, 30km/h zones, park areas and underpasses, and is therefore a good reflection of Munich’s varied bus network.
Test users ride as part of a closed user group. The MAN Lion City 12 E has around 30 seats and one wheelchair space. Anyone interested can register at mvg.de/minga-anmeldung to join a pool of potential participants. Further information will then be sent by email.
Scientific monitoring of test operations
Passenger trials will help assess how autonomous buses operate in public transportation and how passengers respond to them. TUM and the University of Stuttgart will monitor the trials, using surveys, interviews and observational studies to examine passenger perceptions, safety and accessibility.
The City 12 E has been collecting route data on Munich’s route 178 since September. Equipped with five lidar sensors, six radar sensors, eight cameras and satellite-based positioning, the bus uses this data to navigate independently. It can steer, accelerate, brake and signal automatically, while safety drivers remain on board to monitor the systems and intervene if necessary.
Before entering public road traffic, the bus completed testing at MAN’s facility, including technical inspections by TÜV and the required approval procedures.
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