A German public transport project testing self-driving electric shuttles has expanded operations to Darmstadt, extending service beyond Langen and Egelsbach in the Offenbach district, where it began three months ago. The KIRA initiative, run by Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund (RMV) and Deutsche Bahn, now allows registered users to book rides across a wider service area.
The pilot deploys Nio ES8 electric SUVs equipped with LiDAR, cameras, and Mobileye software, operating at automation level 4. The vehicles drive autonomously on defined routes, monitored remotely from a control centre. Unlike other autonomous shuttle projects in Germany, KIRA’s fleet moves in regular public traffic. “With Darmstadt, the KIRA service area links rural areas directly to the city,” said RMV CEO Knut Ringat. “Our pilot tests how to make public mobility available everywhere and anytime, a key part of our vision for autonomous public transport in Germany.”
More than 1,000 test users have been approved to date, with further participants to be added gradually. The fleet, operated by DB Regio Bus Mitte and supported by DB subsidiary ioki, has travelled over 60,000 km since June 2024, averaging more than one trip per hour during operating times. The test phase, backed by €2.2 million in federal and state funding, runs until the end of 2025, following delays linked to the insolvency of former project partner CleverShuttle.
Source: deutschebahn.com