Driverless level 4 shuttles begin feeding public transport in Germany’s Rhein-Main region

KIRA pilot project in the Rhein-Main region is kicking off, with passengers to be transported according to Level 4 driverless capabilities. Initiated by Deutsche Bahn and Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund (RMV), the service operates in Langen and Egelsbach (Offenbach district) and is accessible to registered test users via a dedicated app developed by ioki.

The six autonomous shuttles are operated by DB Regio Bus Mitte. ioki delivers the booking and route planning software and coordinates system integration among various technology partners, including Mobileye, which supplies the autonomous driving system, HD maps, and sensors.

A Level 4 driverless project in Germany

According to ioki, this marks the first time Level 4 autonomous vehicles are being used in regular public transport operations in Germany with passengers on board. It should be mentioned that, in parallel, another Level 4 project involving the Karsan Autonomous e-Atak is underway in Burgdorf, near Hannover. In that case, the vehicles involved are buses, which are set to begin public testing later in 2025.

Back to KIRA project, the vehicles operate without active driver control within a defined area, though a safety driver is currently present during the test phase. Technical oversight is provided remotely from a control centre.

The project—whose acronym stands for “AI-based regular operation of autonomous on-demand services”—is part of a broader strategy to improve mobility in rural and suburban areas with flexible, app-based transport. An extension of the test area to parts of Darmstadt is planned for later this year.

The pilot is supported by €2.2 million in funding from the Federal Ministry for Transport and the State of Hesse. Research partners include the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), and the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV). Test operations are scheduled to run through 2025, with a potential extension.

Autonomous buses for public transport

Knut Ringat, CEO of Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund: “In the future, autonomous driving can enable public transport to be offered anytime, anywhere. Rural regions, in particular, will benefit from this. When driverless, flexibly bookable minibuses operate 24/7 where today scheduled buses only run a handful of times a day, public transport becomes available to everyone and significantly more attractive. With the lighthouse project KIRA, we are leading the way and are deploying autonomous vehicles with passengers in regular road traffic for the first time in Germany. We are paving the way to complement and expand public transport services, especially in rural areas, with autonomous on-demand shuttles by the 2030s.”

Evelyn Palla, DB Group Board Member for Regional Transport: “Autonomous driving offers a huge opportunity to make public transport more attractive and at the same time more affordable – especially outside major urban centres. The KIRA project provides an impressive glimpse into what is possible. As a strong partner to the public sector, DB Regio will continue to contribute actively to shaping tomorrow’s public transport.”

Johann Jungwirth, Executive Vice President Autonomous Vehicles at Mobileye: “A safer, more accessible, and more sustainable future of mobility will be achieved through self-driving vehicles. KIRA is a pioneer showing how such a mobility solution can look like in Germany. We are proud that the first test of an autonomous mobility service for public transport in Germany is made possible by Mobileye technology.”

Patrick Schnieder, Federal Minister for Transport: “Autonomous driving is a pivotal key technology for innovative, environmentally friendly, and accessible mobility. Our long-term goal is for it to become standard operation across Germany. Through our funding of the KIRA project, we want to inspire local citizens about this technology. They can simply and conveniently be picked up and taken to their destination by autonomous shuttles. This makes autonomous driving tangible and demonstrates how this form of mobility can enhance people’s quality of life in the region.”

Kaweh Mansoori, Hessian Minister for Economic Affairs, Energy, Transport, Housing, and Rural Areas: “Hesse is setting standards in utilising future-oriented technologies in the transport sector. With today’s launch of Level 4 autonomous on-demand shuttles in the Offenbach district, we are the first federal state in Germany to grant passengers access to this innovative form of mobility. Our objective is to make public transport attractive and accessible to everyone – especially in suburban and rural areas. Autonomous driving in public transport is a crucial factor in ensuring mobility for all and improving quality of life. Therefore, we are following the KIRA pilot project with great interest – it serves as a blueprint for the mobility of the future.”