ÖBB Postbus and Turkish bus manufacturer Otokar have launched a pilot project in Austria involving a fully electric bus equipped with automated driving technology capable of SAE Level 4 operation.
The autonomous e-CENTRO C will initially operate on a predefined route during the European Forum Alpbach before moving to Campus Wolfurt, where it is planned to provide a connection between the industrial park and the local suburban rail network.
The Level 4 system is designed to perform driving tasks independently within a defined operational area without requiring continuous human control. Austrian regulations currently require a trained safety attendant to remain on board during the pilot.
Pilot Focuses On Public Transport Integration
The e-CENTRO C can carry up to 32 passengers and features low-floor access and a wheelchair ramp. Otokar said its autonomous driving technology and software were developed in-house.
ÖBB said the project is intended to provide practical experience with automated buses and help determine how the technology can be integrated into existing public transport networks.
“Autonomous driving is no longer a vision of the future, but a technology with great potential for public transport,” said ÖBB CEO Andreas Matthä.
The company is primarily examining first- and last-mile applications, particularly routes connecting communities and businesses with existing public transport services. It also sees potential for autonomous buses on defined regional routes.
Rural Mobility Seen As Potential Application
Austria’s Mobility Minister Peter Hanke said automated buses could be particularly useful for first- and last-mile transportation in rural areas and during periods when conventional scheduled services are difficult to operate economically.
The planned Campus Wolfurt deployment will provide a practical test of that approach by linking businesses in the industrial park with the regional rail system.
For Otokar, the Austrian project builds on previous European testing of its autonomous e-CENTRO. The company has already operated the vehicle in Madrid, with experience from that programme being incorporated into the Austrian trials.
Regulations Continue To Develop
The pilot comes as international rules for automated driving systems continue to evolve. The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) adopted its first internationally harmonised regulatory framework for Automated Driving Systems in June.
The framework establishes common safety requirements for the development, approval and operation of highly automated vehicles, including systems designed for SAE Level 4 and higher applications.
The rules do not automatically permit fully driverless vehicles on public roads. Individual countries must still establish approval procedures and operational requirements.
Austria’s pilot illustrates the distinction between technical capability and legal authorisation. Although the e-CENTRO C is designed to operate at SAE Level 4 within its designated operating area, a trained safety attendant remains required on board under current Austrian rules.
The ÖBB Postbus and Otokar project will therefore provide an opportunity to evaluate both the technology and its potential role in Austria’s public transport system while the regulatory environment develops.