Electric minibuses, designed with unique electricity-powered engines, undergo testing in Munich, provided at no cost to the public.
In an exciting development for public transportation in Munich, the MVG is currently testing electric minibuses as part of its efforts to enhance services, particularly for early or late shifts and areas on the outskirts of the city.
These new buses, which can accommodate up to 10 passengers and are barrier-free, are being tested on line 167 in Hadern until October 24. During the test period, rides on these electric minibuses are free.
The MVG plans to improve its offer between Neuaubing and Freiham from the beginning of 2026 with these small, maneuverable buses. During the MVG test, three connected electric minibuses will drive between Waldfriedhof and Großhaderner Straße.
One of the key advantages of these new buses is their flexibility. They can be coupled together, allowing up to three to serve sections with higher demand, and can separate again if necessary. A deployment every 60 minutes is planned during the test operation.
These electric minibuses could potentially be used for driverless operations in the future. While the company producing the first autonomous minibuses without drivers has not been explicitly named, according to MVG statements, these autonomous electric minibuses are planned for deployment from 2027/2028. The first driverless minibuses could be approved and produced in series as early as this timeframe, according to the manufacturer's statement.
It's worth noting that there have been restrictions on 17 MVG bus lines in regular operation. The deployment of these new buses could improve the connection between Neuaubing and Freiham, and potentially better connect the outskirts of Munich to public transport.
Moreover, these electric minibuses could offer a larger and more flexible service at a similar price. There is already a special service of MVG buses that hardly anyone knows about, and these new buses could provide additional insights for driverless shuttles.
Autonomous vehicles with similar capacity could initially be used on the outskirts of the city. The test of these new buses could pave the way for future driverless public transportation solutions in Munich.
