Germany's state-owned rail company Deutsche Bahn has launched the first driverless shuttle bus to transport passengers in spa town, Bad Birnbach in Bavaria, on Wednesday, local media the DPA reported.
The six-seat electric vehicle EZ10, developed by a French company, commutes in the spa town connecting the town center and the thermal bath in a 700-meter route. The bus automatically comes to a stop whenever obstacles are detected by sensors.
The operator of the shuttle bus is the Deutsche Bahn subsidiary DB Regio Bus Ostbayern. For the time being, the ride is free of charge, and a driver is on board who could intervene manually if necessary. The speed is limited to 15 kilometers per hour, according to the DPA.
Also according to the news agency, in Hamburg, a second route has been planned for public transport in 2018.