Germany Tests Self-Driving Vehicles With Passengers For The First Time

Germany deployed the first self-driving cars operating on level 4 automation with passengers in the public transportation network on Monday. The project, KIRA, led by railway operator Deutsche Bahn, allows users to request an autonomous vehicle through a mobile app.

According to DPA International, residents in the Frankfurt Rhine-Main region can now order a driverless car via the KIRA app, in a similar way to requesting an Uber. During the trial phase, however, a safety supervisor will be on board, ready to intervene in case of emergency.

The KIRA vehicles had been deployed before on multiple tests, but this is the first time the self-driving cars will be carrying passengers at automation Level 4—without drivers— in Germany.

Deutsche Bahn explained that the new service will begin near the Frankfurt area, but that they expect to expand the services to more cities and towns soon—Egelsbach, Langen, and Darmstadt are among the next destinations.

“Autonomous driving is a key technology for innovative, eco-friendly, and accessible mobility. In the long run, it should be in regular operation throughout Germany,” said Patrick Schnieder, Federal Minister of Transport, in a press release.

“With our support for the KIRA project, we want to excite citizens about this technology: people can be picked up and transported conveniently by autonomous shuttles. This way, we make autonomous driving a tangible experience and demonstrate how this form of mobility can improve quality of life in the region.”

The German Transport Ministry invested €2.2 million—around $2.5 million—in the project and is now encouraging citizens to participate. Those interested in testing autonomous vehicles must register through KIRA’s website.

Germany is joining the growing list of countries exploring robotaxi services. China and the United States have been leading the way, with hundreds of robotaxis already deployed in multiple cities. More recently, Waymo began testing its services in Japan.