Hamburg is taking the next step towards autonomous mobility: with the 3plus3 project, HOCHBAHN is introducing series-ready autonomous vehicles into regular bus line operations for the first time – a first in Germany.
From the end of 2026, three RoboShuttles (approx. 5 metres long, around 10 passengers) and three RoboMidibuses (approx. 8 metres long, around 30 passengers) are to be deployed on existing routes in Hamburg – supplementing the existing service. This will be the first time that autonomous operation has been tested under real conditions in regular service.
Unlike the ALIKE project, in which prototypes are used in on-demand transport, 3plus3 focuses on use in classic regular service. Another milestone: the vehicles are to have a regular operating licence and an operating area permit – and, in the future, will be able to drive without safety drivers. This means they can be used by all passengers.
HOCHBAHN will share the findings gained in the project with the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV) and other transport companies in order to promote a joint learning process within the industry. The aim is to enable the transition from trial to regular operation from 2028/2029.
Because one thing is clear: in order to attract even more people to public transport, a significantly expanded service offering is also needed. Given limited public funds, the use of autonomous vehicles in regular service is therefore a decisive lever for achieving this goal economically in the long term.
