MAN buses to go autonomous with Mobileye
MAN is working with Mobileye to develop autonomous buses.
The pilot operation of the first automated city bus with a safety driver is planned from 2025 as part of the MINGA research project in Munich.
“The fact that urban bus mobility in the future will not only be emission-free and connected, but also automated, is not a general question, but merely a question of time” – Barbaros Oktay, Head of Bus at MAN Truck & Bus
Barbaros Oktay, Head of Bus at MAN Truck & Bus, said: “The fact that urban bus mobility in the future will not only be emission-free and connected, but also automated, is not a general question, but merely a question of time. MAN Truck & Bus has therefore strategically positioned itself through the cooperation with Mobileye in such a way that we can jointly set the decisive milestones on our further path to the automation of the city bus.”
Autonomous vehicle specialist Mobileye Drive has developed a turnkey self-driving system that is ready for scalable commercial use and has a sophisticated sensor system. It is to provide the Mobileye Drive intelligent Automated Driving System (ADS) for MAN’s autonomous bus development. Meanwhile, MAN will create the necessary vehicle architecture to meet bus automation requirements.
The first automated MAN Lion’s City E is to prove itself in Munich’s city traffic from as early as 2025, accompanied by a safety driver. It is to be used on route 144 through the Olympic Park, which is characterised by tourism and leisure. The manufacturer is planning further pilots in actual customer use and full series production by the end of the decade. It believes the fact that Germany was the first country in the world to create the legal framework for autonomous driving is a decisive advantage in this respect.
“We care about sustainable mobility solutions in both the private and public sectors and see autonomous vehicle technologies as an important contribution to making public transport safer, more efficient and more accessible” – Johann Jungwirth, Senior Vice President, Autonomous Vehicles at Mobileye
Johann Jungwirth, Senior Vice President, Autonomous Vehicles at Mobileye, said: “We are excited about the future collaboration with MAN Truck & Bus. We care about sustainable mobility solutions in both the private and public sectors and see autonomous vehicle technologies as an important contribution to making public transport safer, more efficient and more accessible. MAN Truck & Bus and Mobileye share a clear vision for autonomous mobility of the future, which is underlined by this cooperation.”