As part of the MINGA project, MAN Truck & Bus has equipped an electric city bus with an Automated Driving System in collaboration with its technology partner ADASTEC. Extensive testing is currently underway at MAN’s premises, with pilot operations in city traffic planned by Munich Transport Company (MVG) starting autumn 2026. MAN continues to accelerate its automation roadmap to play a key role in shaping the future of urban mobility.
MAN Truck & Bus has reached a significant milestone in automated driving, having successfully automated a fully electric city bus in partnership with ADASTEC. Barbaros Oktay, Head of Bus at MAN Truck & Bus, noted that this achievement marks an important step towards automated urban mobility. As part of the MINGA research project, MVG is set to test the vehicle in Munich’s city traffic later this year.
Over the past few months, MAN has equipped a Lion’s City 12 E with an Automated Driving System (ADS) and integrated it into the vehicle’s electronic architecture. The bus is now technically capable of automated driving, supported by five LiDAR sensors, six radar units, eight cameras, and a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). Initial test drives are being conducted on MAN’s premises, focusing on specific manoeuvres such as approaching bus stops. This phase aims to fine-tune the system, collect operational data, and optimise automated driving functions.
Germany’s Federal Minister of Transport, Patrick Schnieder, highlighted the broader significance of such initiatives, stating that autonomous driving is a key enabler for the future of mobility, offering greater efficiency and inclusivity in road transport. He added that projects like MAN’s automated electric bus are pioneering efforts that will have an impact beyond Munich.
Autonomous pilot operations planned for Munich’s public transport
Following internal testing, the automated electric bus is scheduled to operate on public roads in Munich, initially without passengers. These trials will serve as a final validation phase under real-world conditions. MVG plans to commence official pilot operations in autumn with a closed user group.
Dr. Michael Roth, Head of Bus Strategy and Product Strategy Bus at MAN, explained that the vehicle will be capable of independently steering, accelerating, braking, and signalling, while a safety driver remains onboard to monitor system performance. Feedback from test users will be systematically evaluated, with passenger operations to be introduced at a later stage.
By deploying automated buses, MAN aims to enhance efficiency, flexibility, and sustainability in public transportation. With growing urbanisation and an increasing shortage of drivers in the commercial vehicle sector, automated systems offer significant potential to maintain and improve mobility services. Roth also emphasised that autonomous driving can contribute to reducing road accidents and improving overall safety.
Insights from the MINGA project are being directly integrated into the development of future vehicle generations. MAN has been advancing driverless bus technologies for several years and plans to introduce a fully automated vehicle at SAE Level 4 within the next decade, targeting emission-free, connected, and automated urban mobility solutions.
With ADASTEC as its technology partner, MAN is leveraging specialised expertise in automated driving systems. ADASTEC develops SAE Level 4 automated driving software platforms tailored for buses and commercial vehicles.
MINGA: A key project for the mobility of the future
The MINGA project (Munich’s Automated Local Transport with Ridepooling, Solobus, and Bus Platoons) has been underway since 2023, bringing together 16 partners from public authorities, research institutions, and industry. The Mobility Department of the City of Munich leads the consortium and oversees the overall project execution.
The initiative aims to integrate automated and connected mobility solutions into existing transport systems while addressing critical aspects such as technology, regulation, cost-effectiveness, accessibility, and operations. The project is funded with approximately €13 million through mid-2027 by the Federal Ministry of Transport under the “Autonomous and Connected Driving in Public Transportation” programme.
Oktay underscored the importance of the initiative, describing MINGA as a crucial step towards achieving proof of concept in regular service. He added that, following the concept phase, field trials with customers are expected to begin, noting strong interest from public transport operators in autonomous bus solutions.