World’s First Driver-Less Bus Hits the Road in Lyon, France

From mobile apps to electronic boarding passes, travel becomes technology focused each day. An innovative new way to travel debuted in France where buses transport passengers to their destination without the use of a conductor. These technologically advanced driver-less buses are the first of their kind and have taken to the streets in their inaugural city of Lyon.

The buses — each of which costs €200,000 — were engineered by the France-based NAYVA, a company that develops autonomous technology for transportation and other systems. With a maximum speed of 20 kilometers (12 miles) per hour, the shuttles direct themselves using an internal GPS and stereovision cameras.

Two electric shuttles currently embark on a trial route of five stops through the Lyon neighborhood of Confluence. For the safety of the passengers, one driver will be onboard during the trial period just in case there is the need for manual intervention.

During the trial period, the buses are free to use for passengers with a maximum capacity of 15 passengers at a time. The French government has plans to add more buses in the future depending on the trial’s success. The area of Lyon through which the buses travel is undergoing a major redevelopment, which will contribute to the utility of the autonomous buses.