Is this the transport of the future? Madrid tests first driverless bus 'made in Spain'

A park in Madrid has a new temporary tenant: a fully autonomous electric minibus that aims to bring the mobility of the future closer and alleviate driver shortages worrying many parts of Europe.

The minibus, which was manufactured in Spain, has been circulating in the Casa de Campo park since 15 September as part of a pilot project by the Municipal Transport Company (EMT) and the Automotive Technology Centre of Galicia (CTAG). The project aims to test this technology in real open traffic conditions.

The vehicle, with a capacity for 12 passengers, operates from Monday to Friday between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m., and will complete a circular route of 1.8 kilometres with six stops. The service is free of charge and will be available until 24 October as part of European Mobility Week activities.

Expectation has been evident in the first few days: passengers who came to try it out acknowledged the excitement of travelling on a driverless bus, while EMT employees showed pride and enthusiasm for taking part in a pioneering project in the city.

"This bus is one of the best I have ever tested," César Omar Chacón Fernández, head of the EMT's Rolling Stock Planning Division, told Euronews.

"It behaves very well dynamically. Let's say that the technology is very well integrated, it doesn't behave erratically or robotically like other buses," he added.

The vehicle is 100 per cent electric, although a large part of its technological components come from abroad. The assembly, software, and systems integration were developed in Galicia in northern Spain, where CTAG has installed sensors, cameras, GPS, and a central processing unit (CPU) that acts as the "brain" of the vehicle.

The aim of EMT and CTAG is not to replace drivers, but to explore how this technology can complement public transport. Elsewhere in Europe, the lack of professional drivers is a growing challenge, and experts say autonomous buses could alleviate that shortage.

"In Madrid we don't have that staffing problem, but we do see an opportunity in improving the safety and efficiency of our buses," Chacón said, adding that "this type of technology can cover the so-called 'hot spots' where this problem is very apparent".

European cities such as Paris, Stockholm, and Hamburg are also experimenting with autonomous mobility.

In Madrid, some residents have expressed doubts about the reliability of the project, but EMT says the system is safe and has been in development for years.

"This is not the first time we have tested this technology: we have been working with autonomous vehicles for four or five years and this is one of the most reliable we have tested," he said.

The bus integrates an advanced system that monitors speed, acceleration, trajectory, door status, accessibility ramps, and indicators in real time. Integral control optimises safety and improves driving efficiency.

The autonomous driving system works at level 4 automation: the minibus recognises roads, traffic lights, cyclists, and pedestrians, and decides for itself when to accelerate, brake, or turn.

"The vehicle detects any object, from a bicycle to an animal, and reacts accordingly to avoid collisions," Chacón said.

In addition, a safety operator is always on board. His role is to monitor the journey and act in case of emergency, either by opening doors or manually braking.

"It is a fully autonomous line, but we never leave anything to chance," he said.