After successful pilot projects in Friedrichshafen, ZF Mobility Solutions can now test its fully automated shuttle buses on public roads across Germany. The approval of the Federal Motor Transport Authority for Level 4 autonomy marks significant progress for local public transport of the future.
In Friedrichshafen Autonomous bus shuttles have been in regular operation for several months. Now the subsidiary has ZF Mobility Solutions Received the approval from the Federal Motor Transport Authority to test its level 4 system for fully automated driving on public roads across Germany.
The electrical minibuses have been on the test operation on selected routes in Friedrichshafen and Mannheim since autumn last year. So far, the permits have only been applied to pre -defined sections or urban areas.
At Level 4 If it is fully automated driving, in which no one has to constantly be able to intervene. The vehicle can achieve a secure condition independently, whereby the autonomy is still linked to different conditions.
According to ZF, Germany-wide approval represents a milestone for autonomous mobility solutions. As a development and consulting service provider, the company can now support partners in sustainable traffic transfers for local transport. The first extended approval has already been used for a project with Rheinbahn AG in Düsseldorf, where an autonomous transport system was tested.
Alexander Makowski, Head of ZF Mobility Solutions, emphasizes the possibility of being able to test autonomous mobility systems in a wide variety of environments without a separate test permit. The current approval applies until the end of 2026 with an extension option by 2028.
The company gained initial experience in the Rabus project, which was funded by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Transport and was extended by Minister Winfried Hermann at the end of last year. ZF uses the extended project duration for technical development and creates additional test options.