Start of the autonomous buses in Munich moved to 2026 - what now?

Start of the autonomous buses in Munich moved to 2026 - what now?

München, Deutschland - The introduction of autonomous buses in Munich, a central element of the Minga project, is delayed. Instead of 2025 as originally planned, the first vehicles are now to start operating at the earliest in 2026. The Munich Transport Society (MVG) has confirmed this delay on the basis of outstanding permits. In particular, the necessary AFGBV approval from the Federal Motor Transport Authority is still pending. However, technical and regulatory preparations continue to run, so that everyone involved works closely together to advance the progress.

The planned autonomous buses are to be used on two lines: line 178 in the north and line 197 in southern Munich. An ambitious goal that not only wants to revolutionize local mobility, but also supplemented by tests by automated solo buses and digitally coupled vehicles in bus platooning. The originally planned use on line 144 by the Olympic Park is no longer planned.

partner and financing

The Minga project includes around a dozen partners from administration, research, industry and business. Partners include Truck & Bus, Stadtwerke Munich and the mobility department of the state capital of Munich. The initiative will receive a funding of around 13 million euros from the Federal Ministry of Transport, which was originally valid until the end of 2025, but was now extended by the end of 2027.

Another central aspect of the Minga project is the cooperation between the Mobility Department Munich and the DB subsidiary Ioki. This cooperation aims to build a ride pooling system with three to five automated vehicles, which are supposed to transport passengers in the on-demand operation. First of all, trial companies are planned without passengers with safety drivers before test drives under technical supervision with passengers.

Smart mobility and sustainable mobility solutions

Developments in Munich are part of a comprehensive trend towards smart mobility, an interface between technology and mobility. This not only includes the use of traditional motor vehicles and electric vehicles, but also a wide range of new means of transport, such as on-demand and car sharing offers. In view of increasing environmental issues and the need to reduce traffic loads, interest in intelligent mobility is increasing.

The Minga project wants to gain knowledge from the tests in order to optimize future processes and create flexible offers in local public transport. Such flexible on-demand vehicles could supplement the bus, subway and tram in Munich and make local transport more attractive as a whole. The developments from Munich could thus give important impulses for the urban mobility of the future and change the way of transportation in cities.