Autonomous Vehicle by Karsan Commences Transport Services in Germany

The city of Burgdorf, Germany, has become a pioneering location for autonomous bus operations, as Karsan's Autonomous e-ATAK vehicle took to the streets as part of the ALBUS project. This marks the first time an autonomous public transport vehicle has been implemented in Germany.

The Karsan Autonomous e-ATAK, a 100% electric vehicle with a maximum speed of 40km/h and a range of 300km, has received testing approval from the Kraftfahrt Bundesamt (KBA) and is now carrying registered passengers along two routes in Burgdorf. The vehicle was developed with ADASTEC's Level 4 autonomous driving software.

The trial routes for the autonomous vehicle include ZOB - Gartenstraße - Vor dem Celler Tor - Kleiner Brückendamm - Schwarzer-Herzog Intersection, and an extension to the Südstadt with stops at Geibelstraße - Niedersachsenring - Berliner Ring - Immenser Landstraße - Immenser Straße. The autonomous vehicle will stop at 11 designated stops and traverse a number of intersections, pedestrian crossings, and traverse 10 traffic lights along its trial routes.

The launch ceremony for the premiere of Karsan’s first autonomous public vehicle in Germany was attended by German Federal Minister of Transport Patrick Schnieder, among others, including the head of the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, Volker Wissing. The project is made possible in part by funding provided by the Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV), with the initiative valued at 3.7 million EUR.

The trial of the autonomous vehicle in Burgdorf reflects Karsan's commitment to building safer, cleaner, and more inclusive mobility. The autonomous vehicle will operate as a supplement to the local 906 route service and will run until the start of 2026, offering services once per hour. Each journey of the autonomous vehicle will be monitored by trained security personnel, and passengers will be requested to provide feedback via an online survey following the completion of their journey.

The trial of the autonomous vehicle in Burgdorf is an important step towards integrating autonomous driving into everyday life. As the third country where Karsan has begun providing services on public roads, following the Netherlands and Switzerland, this marks a significant milestone in the development and implementation of autonomous driving technology.