Driverless robot bus begins regular service in Tampere

A 12-seat autonomous shuttle bus on route 301 in Tampere will operate without an on-board safety driver from next Wednesday, monitored only remotely, the city announced.

According to Tampere, this is the first time in Finland that a robot bus has run in commercially implemented public transport under remote supervision. The service connects Hervantajärvi and Lintuhytin and serves as a feeder to tram line 3.

The bus relies on multiple, mutually reinforcing safety systems, travels a pre-set route at low speed, and continuously scans its surroundings with sensors. If an obstacle or irregular situation is detected, the vehicle stops automatically. Remote operators monitor the bus in real time and can intervene if needed.

Passengers must wear seatbelts for the duration of the trip. Emergency instructions and a direct voice and video link to the control room are available inside the vehicle.