Munich, Bavaria, Germany – MAN Truck & Bus has achieved a significant milestone in the field of automated driving, equipping a fully electric city bus with an Automated Driving System (ADS) in collaboration with its technology partner Adastec. This development marks a crucial step towards automated urban mobility, as emphasized by MAN Bus CEO Barbaros Oktay.
Project Minga: Autonomous E-Bus for Munich’s Public Transport
As part of the Minga research project, the Munich Transport Company (MVG) is scheduled to test the vehicle in Munich’s urban traffic starting in autumn 2026. This initiative aims to integrate automated and connected mobility solutions into the existing transport system, addressing key questions regarding technology, regulation, economic viability, accessibility, and operation.
Advanced Sensor Technology for Autonomous Operation
Over recent months, MAN and Adastec have meticulously integrated the ADS into the electronic architecture of a Lion’s City 12 E bus. The vehicle is equipped with five LiDAR sensors, six radars, eight cameras, and a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), enabling it to operate autonomously. Initial tests are currently underway at MAN’s premises, focusing on specific driving maneuvers such as approaching bus stops. This phase is crucial for fine-tuning the system, gathering essential operational data, and optimizing automated driving functions.
Federal Minister of Transport, Patrick Schnieder, highlighted the importance of autonomous driving as a key to future mobility. He stated, “Projects like MAN’s fully electric, automated city bus in Munich are pioneering for public transport in Germany. This is groundbreaking work that will radiate far beyond the region and the city of Munich.”
Pilot Operation in Munich’s Urban Traffic
Following the tests at MAN’s facility, the automated electric bus will be deployed in Munich’s urban traffic, initially without passengers. These journeys will serve as a final testing phase under real-world conditions. MVG plans to commence official pilot operations with a closed user group in the autumn.
Dr. Michael Roth, Head of Bus Strategy and Bus Product Strategy at MAN, explained, “The vehicle will autonomously steer, accelerate, brake, and signal. A safety driver will be on board to monitor the systems.” The feedback from test users will be systematically evaluated. Information regarding when and under what conditions public participation will be possible will be announced in due course.
SAE Level 4 Automation as a Future Goal
MAN’s deployment of automated buses aims to make future public transport more efficient, flexible, and sustainable. Automated systems offer significant potential to ensure and improve mobility, especially in light of growing cities and an increasing shortage of drivers in the commercial vehicle sector.
“Furthermore, autonomous driving can contribute to reducing traffic accidents on the roads and thus increase safety,” added Roth. The insights gained from the Minga project will directly influence the further development of future vehicle generations. MAN has been working on driverless buses for years and plans to launch a fully automated series production vehicle at SAE Level 4 (fully automated vehicles) within the next decade, striving for emission-free, connected, and automated urban mobility.
Adastec, MAN’s partner in this research project, is a specialized provider of automated driving systems, developing software solutions for SAE Level 4 driving for buses and commercial vehicles.
Minga: A Key Project for Future Mobility
The Minga research project, which commenced in 2023, involves 16 partners from administration, research, and industry. The Department of Mobility of the City of Munich is the consortium leader for the overall project. The project is funded until mid-2027 with approximately 13 million euros by the Federal Ministry of Transport, as part of the funding guideline “Autonomous and Connected Driving in Public Transport.”
“Minga is an enormously important project for us, as it is a crucial step towards a ‘Proof of Concept’ in regular service,” reported Oktay, adding: “After the concept phase is completed, field trials with customers will begin. The interest of transport companies in autonomous buses is huge.”
The development of autonomous electric buses represents a significant leap forward in urban transportation, promising a more sustainable, efficient, and safer future for public transit in cities like Munich and beyond.
Source: https://www.busplaner.de/de/news/meilenstein-fuer-man-e-bus-faehrt-autonom-durch-die-muenchner-city-221960.html
