Germany on Monday launched a pilot program offering fully autonomous public transport services in two small towns, using technology from Intel-owned Mobileye and vehicles provided by Chinese EV maker Nio.
The pilot programme, named KIRA, is led by Deutsche Bahn (DB) and the Rhein-Main Transport Association (RMV), and operates in the towns of Langen and Egelsbach, south of Frankfurt.
The project uses six modified first-generation ES8 SUVs, Nio’s debut model launched in China in 2018, equipped with autonomous driving systems developed by Intel-owned Mobileye.
The Israel-based company provides the autonomous driving system, including HD maps and advanced sensors. The trial will run through the end of 2025, with an extension under consideration.
While all driving decisions are made by the car, a safety driver remains on board during the test phase. Supervisory staff monitor operations from a remote control centre.
The vehicles, capable of speeds up to 130km/h, operate in regular traffic.
Passengers must register through the KIRA app to book rides. DB said the service will expand to parts of Darmstadt later this year.
The KIRA programme—short for “AI-based regular operation of autonomous on-demand transport”—marks the first time Level 4 automated vehicles are being used with passengers on public roads in Germany.
The pilot project is backed by €2.2 million ($2.5 million) in funding from Germany’s Federal Ministry for Transport, with additional financial support provided by the State of Hesse.
Level 4 automation allows driverless operation within geofenced areas without human intervention.
“Congrats to Deutsche Bahn on launching the autonomous shuttle KIRA pilot project with test users today in Germany,” Mobileye wrote on LinkedIn this Monday.
“We are proud that our Mobileye Drive™ technology is powering this project into its next phase,” the company added.
The initiative builds on a partnership between Nio and Mobileye announced in 2019, which aimed to develop autonomous vehicles for the Chinese and global markets.
Earlier this year, Norwegian operator Ruter launched a self-driving ride-hailing service in Oslo using the same Nio ES8 model.
Last year, Mobileye showed a 14-minute clip of a Nio ES8 driving autonomously in Norway where the company claimed it handled “complex roads, intersections, and roundabouts, expertly making real-time decisions and maneuvers.”
Here’s the video shared by Mobileye last year.
Volkswagen Group said in March it is partnering with Valeo and Mobileye to bring Level 2+ driver assistance to upcoming vehicles on its MQB platform, launching in the next few years.
