Autonomous holon shuttle makes debut in Hamburg city

Hamburg Aims to Lead Europe in Autonomous Public Transportation

Hamburg, the vibrant city in northern Germany, is making strides in the world of autonomous vehicles. The city is planning to establish autonomous driving in regular service in the long term, with the ambitious goal of introducing vehicles that can fully operate autonomously across Europe for the first time.

To achieve this, Hamburg is building its own operating base in Barmbek for the Holon Shuttles. The Holon Urban shuttle, currently being tested in the city, is a 5-meter long vehicle that accommodates 15 passengers and reaches a top speed of 60 km/h. This summer, the Holon Urban shuttle will be tested in the test area between Stadtpark, Elbe, Schlump, and Wandsbek.

The first autonomous shuttle of the Holon Urban type has already arrived in Hamburg. Starting in 2026, selected passengers will be able to ride and use the on-demand service of the Holon Urban shuttle. The operating base for the Holon Shuttles is being built in Barmbek, Hamburg.

In addition to the Holon Urban shuttle, autonomous ID Buzz AD vehicles from Moia, a company owned by Volkswagen, are already in operation in Hamburg. The Alike project, funded by the federal government with 26 million euros, is testing both the Holon and Moia autonomous vehicles.

Sascha Meyer, CEO of Moia, was recently featured in Future Hamburg Talks. The Hochbahn, the city's public transport provider, plans to establish autonomous driving in regular service in the long term, but will first gather initial experience with smaller vehicles. Over half a billion euros have been allocated for Hamburg's mobility projects.

Hamburg aims to become the European pioneer in autonomous public transportation with this project. The autonomous ID Buzz AD vehicles being tested today in Hamburg are manufactured in Hannover and are planned for use in fleet services such as robotaxis in Hamburg and Los Angeles.

The progress in Hamburg's autonomous transportation project is a significant step towards a future where autonomous vehicles become a common sight on European roads. As the city continues to test and refine its autonomous vehicles, it is poised to lead the way in this exciting and rapidly evolving field.