Malta announces €14 million investment for 40 new electric buses and autonomous shuttle pilot

Malta has announced a €14 million investment to add 40 new electric buses to the Malta Public Transport fleet as part of the government’s “Malta in Motion” mobility strategy.

The investment, announced by the Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure and Public Works, will more than double the size of the operator’s electric fleet and supports the government’s target of deploying a fully electric public transport fleet on the island of Gozo. The announcement was accompanied by the launch of a pilot project involving an autonomous electric shuttle, to be tested in Malta and Gozo over a six-month period. Both the supplier of the vehicles and the brand

Malta strengthens electric bus rollout under “Malta in Motion”

According to the Maltese government, the procurement of the 40 electric buses forms part of the broader “Malta in Motion” programme, which includes investments in public transport, infrastructure modernisation, innovative mobility technologies and sustainable transport solutions.

The Ministry stated that the new buses will support the ongoing transition towards a “more modern, sustainable and efficient” mobility system. Alongside the vehicle investment, the government also announced new public transport routes, extensions of existing services and frequency increases that are due to enter into operation in the coming days.

Transport Minister Chris Bonett said the investment represents a further step in the implementation of the national mobility strategy. “This is not a plan or a presentation on paper, but a vision that is being built step by step, investment after investment. Today we are sending another clear message about the direction the country is taking, towards cleaner, more modern and more sustainable mobility.”

Felipe Cosmen, Chairman of Malta Public Transport, “What we are presenting today is not only the introduction of new buses, but another step in a long journey of modernising public transport in Malta. From the very beginning we understood that public transport is not only a service, but part of the country’s daily rhythm and a key contributor to social, economic and environmental wellbeing.”

Autonomous electric shuttle pilot to start in Malta and Gozo

Alongside the electric bus investment, Maltese authorities announced the arrival of an autonomous electric shuttle vehicle that will undergo structured testing for at least six months. The pilot project is being carried out jointly by the Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure and Public Works, Malta Public Transport and the University of Malta within the framework of the EU-funded metaCCAZE project under Horizon Europe.

The autonomous shuttle, which can carry up to 15 passengers, is expected to begin operating on pre-approved routes from next month through controlled trials before entering public service operations.

According to the government statement, a trained safety operator will remain on board throughout the testing phase with the ability to immediately take control of the vehicle if necessary. The pilot is being conducted under a newly introduced regulatory and safety framework published by Transport Malta.

The metaCCAZE project involves several European cities and focuses on electric, automated and innovative mobility solutions for both passenger and freight transport. Other pilot projects within the programme are already underway in cities including Tampere and Amsterdam.