MAN Truck & Bus has begun operating an automated Lion’s City 12 E electric bus on a public transport route in Munich, marking a move from controlled testing to trials in regular urban traffic.
The 12-metre electric bus has been operating on Munich Transport Company’s (MVG) Route 178 between Petuelring and Freimanner Hölzl since early September. A safety driver remains on board during the current testing phase.
Automated Bus Uses Multiple Sensors
MAN developed the automated system in cooperation with software specialist ADASTEC. The vehicle uses eight cameras, six radar sensors, five lidar sensors and satellite navigation to collect information about its surroundings and build a high-definition map of the route.
Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority (Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt) granted the operating permit following inspections by TÜV. The approval was issued under Germany’s national framework for testing and operating automated vehicles.
“With the first test runs on the route, we’ve left the controlled environment of our factory grounds and are bringing our system into real city traffic. This is an enormously important step toward automated urban mobility,” Barbaros Oktay, Head of Bus at MAN Truck & Bus, said.
Selected Passengers to Join Testing
The next stage of the project will introduce selected passengers to the automated bus through a closed user group. The vehicle will operate alongside scheduled public transport services.
The Lion’s City 12 E used in the trial has approximately 30 seats and space for a wheelchair.
The project is part of MINGA, a city-led initiative involving 16 partners. Germany’s Federal Ministry of Transport is providing approximately €13 million in funding for the project through mid-2027.
MAN Links Automation to Driver Shortages
MAN sees automated driving technology as one potential response to shortages of professional bus drivers.
However, a safety driver will remain on board throughout the MINGA project. MAN also said the vehicle’s size makes controlled and cautious driving behaviour an important consideration during the development and testing of the automated system.
The Munich trials will allow the technology to be evaluated under actual urban traffic conditions while maintaining human supervision throughout the project.
