Autonomous minibus service to be deployed in Châteauroux

It is claimed the vehicle being developed will be significantly larger and faster than the autonomous shuttles deployed today. The partners said the project also addresses the complex issue of interaction with emergency vehicles and connection with traffic light infrastructures. The supervision concept will be rethought to allow a single supervisor to control a fleet of vehicles and guarantee the viability of the economic model for this new type of transport.

The project will demonstrate compliance with the strictest safety standards at the French and European levels. Conforming with public transport requirements, it will meet the demands of public and private players in terms of safety, passenger satisfaction and business development.

This project is supported by Châteauroux Métropole, the Indre department, the Ministry of the Interior and the PFA (Plateforme Automobile), as well as that of the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion, and Bpifrance.

“Offering new carbon-free shared mobility services is firmly at the heart of our raison d’être,” said Annelise Avril, director of marketing, innovation, new mobility at shared mobility specialist Keolis. “We welcome the commitment of the Châteauroux metropolitan area to integrate this fleet of automated electric mini buses into its public transport network, offering passengers a complementary service and a unique travel experience. We are proud to be involved in this blueprint project, alongside our partners in autonomous public transport."

Benoit Perrin, general manager of EasyMile, added: “This project is much more than just a technological success. It is a crucial step in demonstrating the value of a fleet of fully autonomous vehicles in a city. By replacing on-board supervisors with remote supervision of multiple vehicles, we will demonstrate the positive economic impact of this type of service.

“Autonomous technology enables more efficient, accessible and less costly public transportation for communities. This project is a major acceleration in terms of performance and as the consortium coordinator, we are proud to unite the most influential players in the French mobility ecosystem.”