MAN and MVG launch autonomous bus rides with test passengers in Munich from 17 November

MAN Truck & Bus and Munich public transport operator MVG are launching passenger test rides with an autonomous Lion’s City 12 E on route 178 from 17 November, as part of the MINGA research project.

The 12-metre battery-electric bus, automated by MAN in cooperation with technology partner ADASTEC, has been undergoing testing in public road traffic since early September. The new phase will involve registered test passengers travelling between Petuelring and Freimanner Hölzl, in northern Munich, from Monday to Friday.

According to MAN Truck & Bus, more than 2,000 people have already pre-registered to participate in the trials, which are scheduled to continue until June 2027. Specially trained safety drivers will remain on board throughout the testing programme, with the possibility of taking control of the vehicle whenever necessary.

The project involves MAN Truck & Bus, Stadtwerke München (SWM), Münchner Verkehrsgesellschaft (MVG) and the City of Munich’s Department of Mobility. The German Federal Ministry of Transport is supporting MINGA with approximately €13 million in funding.

MAN announced in April that it had selected ADASTEC as its autonomous-driving technology partner, replacing the previously announced cooperation with Mobileye for the MINGA vehicle. ADASTEC is already Karsan’s partner for the Autonomous e-Atak project. The Munich project is part of a wider European push to bring autonomous technology from smaller shuttles and controlled environments into full-size buses and real public transport operations.

Back in 2023, MAN Head of Bus Product Strategy Michael Roth outlined a roadmap moving from technology pilots to customer demonstrations in real operations, with series production targeted by the end of the decade. “Series production for automated buses will be more of a deployment project than simply selling a vehicle,” Roth said at the time.

MAN autonomous bus in Munich: route 178 and passenger testing

The autonomous Lion’s City 12 E operates as an additional vehicle on the existing MVG route 178, rather than replacing scheduled buses. The route includes main roads, 30 km/h zones, park areas and underpasses, providing different traffic conditions for the automated driving system.

The bus offers approximately 30 passenger seats and one wheelchair space. Participation is restricted to a closed group of registered test users, who can apply through the MVG registration platform. Selected participants will receive further information by email.

MAN states that the passenger testing phase will examine the integration of autonomous vehicles into regular public transport operations, including operational reliability, accessibility and passenger acceptance.

SWM and MVG are responsible for integrating the vehicle into Munich’s bus network, organising the test rides, deploying trained safety drivers and providing assistance to participants.

MAN Lion’s City 12 E: autonomous driving technology and safety systems

The automated MAN Lion’s City 12 E is equipped with five LiDAR sensors, six radar sensors, eight cameras and satellite-based positioning technology.

Since September, the bus has collected route data during test operations accompanied by specially trained safety drivers from MAN and MVG. These activities followed an extensive testing programme at MAN facilities, technical inspections by TÜV and the required approval procedures.

Safety drivers will remain on board during all passenger trials, monitoring the automated systems and retaining the ability to intervene immediately.

The trials involve a full-size, 12-metre electric city bus operating under urban traffic conditions, with passenger capacity comparable to conventional solo buses used in scheduled services.

The Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the University of Stuttgart will conduct scientific monitoring throughout the passenger testing phase.

Voluntary surveys administered before and after journeys will collect information on passengers’ experiences, perceptions of safety and accessibility. Selected trips will also include observational studies and voluntary interviews.

According to MAN, the research will address passenger acceptance of autonomous vehicles and the practical conditions associated with their operation in local public transport.

The MINGA test programme is scheduled to continue until June 2027. MVG will also examine the potential integration of automated 12-metre buses into scheduled services, including operational scalability and cost-effectiveness.

The Federal Ministry of Transport is providing approximately €13 million to support the MINGA project, according to MAN. The research programme includes vehicle technology, public transport operations and passenger experience.

MAN and MVG on autonomous bus passenger trials

“With the first test rides, passengers can now experience our technology in everyday use. This is a decisive step. Alongside safe and reliable technology, autonomous vehicles also need people’s trust, and that is what we want to earn. The experience we gain from the MINGA project will feed directly into the development of future vehicle generations and further applications. As a German commercial vehicle manufacturer, we are glad to be developing this technology in Europe for Europe, and to be carrying out the project with such a professional consortium,” said Dr Frederik Zohm, Executive Board Member for Research and Development at MAN Truck & Bus.

“For MVG as a public transport operator, operations with test users are an important step. Technical testing is becoming a service that passengers can experience under real-world conditions. This gives us valuable insights into how autonomous buses can be integrated into local public transport safely, practically and with the customer in mind. The key question for us is whether and how autonomous buses can be scaled up and integrated reliably and cost-effectively into efficient scheduled services in future. With the automated 12-metre bus, we are trialling for the first time a vehicle size that has the potential for high-capacity use in regular bus operations,” added Sinaida Cordes, Authorized Signatory at SWM and MVG.

“Among other things, the vehicle steers, accelerates, brakes and indicates by itself. Safety drivers nevertheless remain on board at all times to monitor the systems,” explained Dr Michael Roth, Head of Bus Strategy and Product Strategy Bus at MAN.