From mid-2025, Hamburg will become the testing ground for an ambitious autonomous on-demand ridepooling service as part of the ALIKE project. The trial, taking place across a 37-square-kilometre zone in the city centre, will feature up to 20 autonomous electric shuttles available for booking via an app. The service will offer a blend of convenience and sustainability, using two distinct models: the Holon Mover, a mid-sized shuttle bus, and the Volkswagen ID.Buzz AD, equipped with advanced sensors for autonomous operation.
The project will gather valuable real-world data on urban traffic and autonomous vehicle integration. Initially, safety drivers will be present to ensure smooth operations, but the service is set to evolve as autonomous technology advances. Moia, a key partner in the initiative, will deploy pre-series units of the ID.Buzz AD in the summer of 2025, using Mobileye technology, with a production version expected to offer enhanced passenger and luggage capacity. Holon’s autonomous shuttles will also begin testing next year.
With a total budget of 26 million euros, the ALIKE project is structured in three phases: planning, integration, and the eventual operational phase. The integration phase is currently underway, with vehicles being linked to operating software and necessary authorisations being secured. In parallel, the Karlsruher Institute for Technology (KIT) will conduct research into public acceptance of autonomous vehicles, starting with surveys on attitudes and expectations. Hamburg’s Senator for Transport, Dr. Anjes Tjarks, views the project as a critical step in modernising public transport, combining traditional services with more personalised, flexible solutions while helping to reduce reliance on private cars.
Hamburg is at the forefront of autonomous transport trials in Europe, with similar initiatives underway in Berlin. The Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) has also partnered with Moia to test the ID.Buzz AD as part of its own ridepooling trials.
Source: moia.io
