Styria prepares for self-driving buses despite legal hurdles

Styria is preparing to introduce self-driving buses, but Austria has not yet approved their regular operation, ORF reported. The buses could be purchased in 2027 if the necessary legal framework is in place.

The vehicles would travel at up to 60 kilometres per hour and carry 20 passengers to West Styria station, according to Christoph Knauder, managing director of the Graz-based vehicle-testing company Alp Lab. The company has tested autonomous vehicles for international manufacturers in rain and snow for the past 10 years.

If the legal requirements are met, operations could begin by 2028, Knauder said. The rollout would take place in stages, with safety drivers on board initially. They could be removed from the vehicles as operations progress.

The buses would be sourced from Asia, while the supporting infrastructure would come as far as possible from Europe and Austria. Alp Lab is already setting up a control centre in Graz, comparable to air traffic control at an airport.

A technical oversight system is also being developed to monitor automated vehicle fleets. Knauder said the fleets would not operate entirely on their own: a human would supervise them and provide support when necessary.

Peter Lackner, head of the transport and traffic division at the Austrian Economic Chamber, said self-driving buses could soon become a reality in Styria, while robo-taxis would take longer. The chamber is following developments closely and plans to travel to London to examine the robo-taxis operating there.