World’s First Autonomous Public Transportation Service Launched In France

  • Sep 14, 2016
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With no steering wheel and pedals on-board, the shuttle can reach speeds up to 45kmph

Navly Arma

Keolis and NAVYA, two companies which joined forces to make an autonomous vehicle for the masses, launched NAVLY to claim the world’s first autonomous and driverless public transportation service title. The announcement came at the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) annual meeting held in Los Angeles, California on September 13, 2016.

The shuttle service is now being tested in Lyon, France where Keolis already operates the bus, tram and subway services. The autonomous vehicle ARMA can transport up to 15 passengers with speeds reaching up to 45kmph. It is an all-electric vehicle, powered solely by batteries. Its state-of-the-art navigation and sensor systems drives the car which means it doesn’t require a steering wheel or any pedals.

The autonomous transportation service is currently limited to a one-mile stretch in Lyon, which includes 5 stops. The said stretch is free of traffic lights, crosswalks and intersections and an end-to-end journey takes about 13 minutes to complete.

Keolis North America CEO Clement Michel reportedly said, “Keolis is pleased to be partnering with NAVYA here at APTA to introduce this new and innovative transportation solution to our clients in the U.S. and Canada. The vehicle is safe, convenient and sustainable, and will provide public authorities with an exciting and intelligent new option to meet the growing demand for urban mobility solutions.”

The autonomous transportation service was developed with the support of la Métropole de Lyon and Sytral, the local agencies responsible for public transport. NAVLY complies with France’s safety regulations for allowing of autonomous shuttles to operate on open roads.

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