Level 4 Autonomous Cars Begin Passenger Operations in Germany
Level 4 autonomous cars are now operating with passengers for the first time in Germany as part of the KIRA project, a trial initiative in the Rhine-Main region.
The pilot involves on-demand robotaxi vehicles running in the city of Langen and the municipality of Egelsbach, both located in the Offenbach district. The service is also expected to be extended to parts of Darmstadt later this year.
For the first time in Germany, passengers travel at Level 4 automation
© Deutsche Bahn
KIRA is Germany’s first project to operate Level 4 autonomous vehicles in public transport with passengers. Participation requires users to register as test users and book journeys through the KIRA mobile application. The project is being led by Deutsche Bahn (DB) and the Rhein-Main Transport Association (RMV).
Six vehicles are currently operating within the trial area, supported by regional partners HEAG mobilo and Kreisverkehrsgesellschaft Offenbach (kvgOF). The shuttles travel in mixed traffic at speeds of up to 130 km/h.
Though the vehicles make driving decisions autonomously, a safety driver is present in each vehicle, and technical staff monitor the journeys from a control centre.
DB Regio Bus Mitte is responsible for operating the shuttles. ioki, a DB subsidiary, provides the booking system and route planning software and integrates various technology components.
Test operations are scheduled to continue through the end of 2025, with a possible extension.
Evelyn Palla, DB Group Board Member for Regional Transport said:
Autonomous driving offers a huge opportunity to make public transport more attractive and affordable – especially outside of major metropolitan areas. The KIRA project provides an impressive glimpse of what’s possible. As a strong partner to the public sector, we at DB Regio want to continue to play our part in actively shaping the public transport of tomorrow.
The KIRA project is receiving approximately 2.2 million EUR in funding from the German Federal Ministry of Transport and additional support from the State of Hesse. Research partners include the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), and the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV).
The project aims to explore how autonomous, on-demand transport could complement existing services, particularly in suburban and rural areas, and how different transport modes could be integrated to enable more flexible travel options.
Patrick Schnieder, Federal Minister of Transport said:
Autonomous driving is a key technology for innovative, environmentally friendly, and barrier-free mobility. In the future, it should therefore be part of regular operation throughout Germany. By supporting the KIRA project, we want to inspire local citizens about this technology: They can be picked up easily and conveniently by autonomous shuttles and taken to their destination. In this way, we make autonomous driving a tangible experience and demonstrate how this form of mobility can improve the quality of life of people in the region.