Autonomous buses are crossing a critical threshold in 2025, moving from closed test tracks to open roads and from technology demonstrations to fixed-route operations, according to a report by the Chinese outlet Huxiu. The shift is reshaping how cities think about public transportation, as several countries integrate self-driving buses into their transit networks.
Global momentum builds
In Europe, the Netherlands has launched a Level 4 autonomous e-ATAK electric bus at the Efteling theme park, operated by Turkish manufacturer Karsan and software firm ADASTEC. The bus runs on a 6-kilometre (3.7-mile) route connecting the park entrance, hotel areas, and public transport hubs, with service provided by Dutch operator Arriva. Norway's Stavanger achieved Europe's first autonomous bus operation without an onboard safety attendant, using a platform by Applied Autonomy. The 2.6-kilometre (1.6-mile) route, which began in 2022, now operates with remote supervision after regulators removed the requirement for an onboard attendant in April.
Germany is also pushing forward. Hamburg's Alike project, supported by federal and local policies, is testing HOLON Mover buses across a 37-square-kilometre area, connecting parks and the Elbe riverfront. Hanover's operator Üstra has deployed the country's first fully automatic mid-sized electric bus, while Leipzig has run the Absolut project since 2022, using Volkswagen Crafter-based vehicles on a 7-kilometre (4.3-mile) route between a suburban rail station and a BMW plant.
In North America, the focus is on first- and last-mile connections. Riverside, California, deployed fully autonomous electric shuttles in 2025, and Atlanta launched its first autonomous bus pilot, "ATL Spoke," in June, using Karsan's e-JEST minibus to connect a MARTA station with a trailhead. The service is operated with partners including Beep and Damera.
Asia leads the charge
Asia is the fastest-growing region for autonomous bus deployment. Singapore, facing land and labour constraints, has made autonomous buses a structural need. In March, a right-hand-drive autonomous bus, developed by Chinese firm Mogo Auto specifically for Singapore, passed the country's M1 test certification, paving the way for scaled delivery and overseas operations.
South Korea has been operating autonomous buses in Seoul and Busan, with plans to expand to 500 vehicles by 2030. Early-morning routes, such as the A160 and A741 lines, have carried over 29,500 passengers cumulatively. The A148 line, launched in April, runs 22.1 kilometres (13.7 miles) with limited stops, cutting travel time by about 15 minutes per trip.
China remains the core market for scaled autonomous bus deployment. In July, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Public Security issued a revised regulation allowing L4-level autonomous vehicles to operate commercially in five cities, including Shanghai and Hangzhou. Guangzhou has opened 21 autonomous bus demonstration routes, Chengdu has 8, and Shenzhen runs services in Qianhai and Luohu districts. Most routes use a reservation-based, fixed-stop model with onboard safety attendants and remote monitoring.
The report argues that autonomous buses may achieve commercial viability before robotaxis, because they operate within defined design domains with predictable routes and stops, reducing complexity. This structured nature makes buses a more straightforward path to full commercial operation for L4 autonomy, according to Huxiu.
