Hannover Region launches pilot with autonomous bus (by Karsan) in mixed traffic

In Burgdorf, within the Hannover Region, the autonomous bus project “albus” has entered its test phase. The trial involves the Karsan Autonomous e-Atak, an 8-metre electric bus equipped by Adastec for fully automated operation, within what Karsan claims being the first large-format autonomous bus in Germany to receive Level-4 testing approval from the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA).

The vehicle will run on a 7-kilometre route in mixed traffic on line 906 in Burgdorf in Hannover, with speeds up to 40 km/h. It will serve 13 stops, cross 10 signalised intersections, and navigate roundabouts and pedestrian crossings autonomously. The bus offers 22 seats and a range of up to 300 kilometres. Operations are set to be monitored onboard by safety and technical staff.

Autonomous bus pilot starting in Hannover

Initial test runs are now starting in May 2025. A public trial phase is planned for Q3 2025, open to adults with prior registration. Feedback will be collected through online surveys before and after the test period to assess acceptance and performance.

The project is operated by ÜSTRA and funded by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) with €3.7 million until the end of 2025.

In 2022 the Turkish Karsan provided in Norway the first normal size autonomous bus in operation in Europe. The Karsan Autonomous e-Atak is made driverless by Adastec’s flowride.ai Level-4 automated driving software platform and has been used since then on a city line, operated by Vy Buss, to transport passengers in the city of Stavanger.

Two years of operation were achieved in March 2024. According to the OEM, the bus performed well on this route and in December 2023 was deployed on a much more challenging route with lane changes in heavy traffic and driving at higher speeds and a tunnel to pass through. Another project is live in Tampere, Finland. And Gothenburg will come from August 2025: the Karsan Autonomous e-Atak will operate on a line connecting Gothenburg Central Station to Liseberg train station. The project is financed by the Västra Götaland region. The bus will start running with passengers as part of Västtrafik’s network and the safety driver will remain at the driver’s seat.

Karsan CEO Okan Baş said: “As the pioneering brand leading the transformation of autonomous public transport, we are moving forward with a structure that not only adapts but also sets standards in this field. Entering the field with Autonomous e-Atak in one of the markets with the strictest regulations, such as Germany, demonstrates not only our technical competence but also our visionary approach. Our Level-4 autonomous full-size bus, which will start serving on public roads in Germany, symbolises Karsan’s determination in the mobility transformation in Europe. This success, which we have achieved together with our technology partner Adastec, is a strong indicator that our competence in software and automotive engineering is recognised even in the most advanced markets of Europe.”

Ali Peker, Adastec CEO, the technology partner of the Autonomous e-Atak, made the following assessment about this cooperation: “The KBA approval of our flowride.ai platform in one of the most rigorous markets in terms of regulation and safety in the world, such as Germany, proves that we have a field-tested, reliable and mature technology. Together with Karsan, we are opening the doors of autonomous transport in Europe and contributing to the smart cities of the future today. This is not just a project, but a strong business partnership that pioneers the mobility transformation in Europe”.