VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta has launched a pilot project for an autonomous electric shuttle, marking a significant step towards smarter and more sustainable public transport across Malta and Gozo.
The 15-seat self-driving shuttle, recently unveiled by Malta Public Transport (MPT), will undergo a structured testing phase lasting at least six months on carefully selected and pre-approved routes before being introduced for public use.
Initially, the vehicle will operate under controlled conditions and eventually provide an on-demand service, allowing passengers to request rides across designated routes. A trained safety operator will remain on board throughout the testing phase and will be able to take manual control at any time.
The autonomous bus is part of a joint initiative involving the Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure and Public Works, Malta Public Transport and the University of Malta under the EU-funded Horizon Europe metaCCAZE project, which is trialling electric and automated transport systems in cities including Amsterdam and Tampere.
University of Malta researchers will also conduct surveys during the pilot to gather public feedback and operational data to support the project’s evaluation.
The shuttle, manufactured by French company Navya, uses cameras, GPS, radar, motion sensors and laser-mapping technology to navigate autonomously.
Transport Minister Chris Bonett said the initiative represents another concrete step in the government’s “Malta in Motion” strategy aimed at delivering cleaner, more efficient and technologically advanced mobility solutions.
The autonomous shuttle rollout forms part of a wider €14 million investment in Malta’s public transport network, which also includes the introduction of 40 new electric buses to the public transport fleet—more than doubling the number currently in service and advancing plans for a fully electric public transport fleet in Gozo.
Additional bus routes, route extensions and increased service frequencies are also set to be introduced from next week as part of the wider transport overhaul.
-Photo Malta Public Transport-
(ITALPRESS).
