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Germany Steps Up Level‑4 Transit Trials as KIRA Reaches Darmstadt and Full‑Size ‘Albus’ Tests Near

Transit agencies are turning to automation to ease staffing shortages despite the lack of a Level‑4 type approval.

Steffen Krach (SPD, r-l), Regionspräsident der Region Hannover, Patrick Schnieder (CDU), Bundesminister für Verkehr, und Elke Maria van Zadel, Vorstand von Uestra, fahren mit einem autonomen Linienbus.
In der Region Hannover startet der Testbetrieb des ersten großformatigen autonomen Linienbusses im Straßenverkehr in Deutschland.
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Overview

  • KIRA expanded its on‑demand service to northern and western Darmstadt, linking the city with Langen and Egelsbach using six Mobileye‑equipped Nio ES8 shuttles operated by DB Regio Bus Mitte.
  • The project reports more than 60,000 kilometres driven without accidents, over 1,000 registered test users, and average ride ratings of 4.5 out of 5, with trained operators on board and remote supervision in place.
  • Üstra’s full‑size Level‑4 ‘Albus’ is scheduled to begin passenger tests in Burgdorf near Hannover on 15 September, with safety personnel on board during the trial and seats allocated via preregistration.
  • Funding details include up to €6.3 million budgeted for Albus with about €3.7 million from the Federal Transport Ministry, and roughly €2.2 million in support for KIRA from federal and state sources.
  • Around 15 autonomous public‑transport model projects are active nationwide, while industry group VDV urges a shift from pilots to regular service as Germany faces a projected shortfall of more than 50,000 bus drivers by 2030.