The Spanish capital incorporated its first autonomous bus with passengers into the Casa de Campo, an electric vehicle that operates without a driver and marks a milestone for sustainable mobility in the city.
The minibus began operating as part of a pilot program driven by the EMT and the Galicia Automotive Technology Center. The trial aims to evaluate the behavior of this technology in a real environment, open to traffic and with citizen interaction.
The service is free, operates on a 1.8-kilometer circuit, and is part of the activities of the European Mobility Week.
An Autonomous and Accessible Experience
The vehicle transports up to 12 passengers and operates from Monday to Friday during daytime hours, with six stops distributed along its route. The first users highlighted the uniqueness of traveling in a transport without a steering wheel, while the technical staff celebrated the progress made.
The project aims to bring autonomous driving closer to everyday life and showcase its potential to transform urban transport. This minibus is completely electric and operates thanks to LIDAR sensors, cameras, GPS, and a processing system developed in Galicia.
Its design integrates monitoring tools that allow recording parameters such as trajectory, speed, and accessibility. The combination of clean energy and autonomous driving reduces emissions, minimizes noise, and optimizes road safety.
Urban Mobility: Towards an Intelligent System
The goal is not to replace drivers but to complement public transport in areas with high demand or staff shortages. In several European regions, the lack of drivers is a growing challenge, and autonomous systems could alleviate that pressure.
The EMT believes that this technology can improve operational efficiency and open new possibilities to modernize the mobility network. The bus operates under an advanced level of automation that allows it to detect pedestrians, cyclists, traffic lights, and unexpected obstacles.
The system responds autonomously to environmental changes, ensuring smooth and anticipated maneuvers. Nevertheless, there is always an operator on board who supervises each journey and acts in case of an emergency.
Environmental and Social Benefits of the Initiative
This pilot experience promotes more sustainable mobility by promoting electric vehicles that reduce urban pollution. It also encourages accessible solutions for people with mobility difficulties, thanks to automation and real-time monitoring.
Additionally, autonomous driving can decrease energy consumption by optimizing braking, acceleration, and routes in urban environments. With this trial, the Spanish capital joins the group of cities experimenting with autonomous public transport, such as Paris and Stockholm.
The initiative positions Spain as a benchmark in innovation applied to collective transport. If the pilot progresses successfully, the city could expand similar projects and move towards a cleaner, smarter, and more resilient network.
