BVG launches largest pilot project for autonomous minibuses

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  The new minibus is parked at the BVG bus depot in Spandau after the presentation on the "autonomous future of local transport" by Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG).

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  Henrik Falk (l-r), CEO of Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG), Ute Bonde (CDU), Berlin's Senator for Mobility, Transport, Climate Protection and the Environment, and Patrick Schnieder (CDU), Federal Minister for Transport, stand in front of a minibus at the BVG's presentation on the "autonomous future of local transport" at the BVG bus depot in Spandau.

Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) is launching its largest pilot project for autonomous driving to date.

From the coming days, five fully electric minibuses will be on the road in the north-west of the capital. Initially, they will complete test and measurement runs without passengers, as BVG boss Henrik Falk announced at the official launch of the project. In the first half of 2026, trial operation with passengers and a safety officer on board will then begin and last for around a year. BVG intends to form fixed test groups for this purpose: Anyone who would like to take part can apply from the beginning of next year. 

From 2026: Book journeys via app

According to BVG, the aim of the pilot project is to integrate autonomous solutions into local public transport. The test area covers 15 square kilometers in the districts of Spandau, Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf and Reinickendorf, mainly north of the U7 line. Over a total route of 55 kilometers, the shuttles will serve around 80 bus stops and other stops. Customers - initially the test group from 2026 - can order them using an app and book journeys to get to the nearest S-Bahn or U-Bahn station, for example. They will operate Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Test drives with a person in the "driver's seat"

BVG has been testing autonomous driving in several smaller projects since 2017. In contrast to these trials, the new VW ID. Buzz AD, which are equipped with numerous cameras, sensors and lots of electronics, are able to drive at autonomy level four, according to BVG. This level is a prerequisite for completely driverless operation. During the test drives, however, there is still a person in the "driver's seat" to monitor the processes and intervene in an emergency. In addition, the vehicles are monitored remotely from a project control center. 

Autonomous regular operation possible from mid-2027

BVG has set itself the goal of expanding and stabilizing autonomous driving operations after the pilot project is completed in mid-2027 on the basis of the experience gained by then. Autonomous progress should then become an integral part of the capital's mobility, said Falk, who spoke of the beginning of a new era and even of a "revolution". "Regardless of life situation: with autonomous vehicles, we can create a completely new mobility system in the future that really responds to the personal needs of people in our city," said Falk. Berlin's transport senator Ute Bonde (CDU) added: "We are starting small and then making it big."

Cooperation with numerous partners from business and science

BVG is working on the project with numerous partners from business and science. These include the Volkswagen subsidiary Moia, which is already implementing a similar project in Hamburg, the Technical University of Berlin, the Institute for Climate Protection, Energy and Mobility (Ikem) and the Berlin Senate. The Federal Ministry of Transport is funding the trial with 9.5 million euros. 

"Real pioneering work is being done here"

"Autonomous driving is the key to the mobility of the future," explained Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU) at the official launch. "Above all, it stands for more efficiency and more participation in road traffic for citizens." Projects such as the planned autonomous shuttles in north-west Berlin are therefore groundbreaking for local public transport in Germany. "Real pioneering work is being done here that will radiate far beyond the region and the city of Berlin." Passengers can currently use driverless buses in around 15 German cities as part of pilot projects. The aim must be to move from trial to real operation as quickly as possible, said Schnieder.