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Der HOLON-Shuttle Mover im HOCHBAHN-Design

Autonomous on-demand shuttles

HOCHBAHN brings autonomous driving to Hamburg

Focus on the mobility transition: The ALIKE project aims to show how public transport services can be expanded in the long term to include a particularly flexible service

Hamburg is taking the next step towards the mobility transition. With autonomous shuttles as a supplement to traditional public transport, we are trialling a particularly flexible and convenient service. The ALIKE project will bring autonomous mobility to life in Hamburg. The first vehicles have been seen in the area for test drives since autumn 2025, but still without passengers. The aim of the project is to learn exactly how autonomous vehicles can improve local public transport - so that we can then expand the public transport services in our city in the long term.

A new era of mobility:

Hamburg is trialling the mobility transition for all

We have joined forces with renowned partners in the ALIKE project to develop a unique autonomous ridepooling system. HOCHBAHN is leading the project, along with the on-demand service provider MOIA, the vehicle manufacturers HOLON (a subsidiary of BENTELER) and Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) as a research partner and the Hamburg Authority for Transport and Mobility Transition (BVM). We are also working with DRM Datenraum Mobilität GmbH to develop a use case for the European data space in the mobility sector in which data can be shared.

With this offering and the findings from the project, we in Hamburg want to provide a blueprint for implementing the mobility transition in cities through autonomous technology. The project is being supported by the Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport with funding totalling 26 million euros.

Logos der Partner des Projekts ALIKE


A shuttle from the manufacturer HOLON is operating for HOCHBAHN. This will be the first time anywhere in the world that it will be carrying passengers in Hamburg. The five-metre-long, fully electric vehicle can reach speeds of up to 60 km/h.

The first autonomous shuttles from MOIA and HOCHBAHN are already being tested on the streets of Hamburg, albeit without passengers. MOIA is using the compact and manoeuvrable Volkswagen ID.Buzz AD, which can accommodate up to four people.

From 2026, test users will be able to ride in the autonomous vehicles from MOIA and HOCHBAHN for the first time. A safety driver will be on board at all times throughout the project period. A total of up to 20 autonomous vehicles from both operators will be on the road and can be booked digitally via the hvv switch app and MOIA app.

ALIKE-Bediengebiet auf Hamburg-Karte

This is where the autonomous shuttles will be on the road

From Stadtpark to the Elbe and from Schlump to Wandsbek: the planned test operation of ALIKE will take place in this red-marked area of around 37 km2 . In Hamburg's city centre, we will reach around 320,000 residents, as well as many others who travel here every day. This is where we can best learn how to drive in the most complex traffic situations possible so that we can then transfer this to other areas. The first vehicles have been seen in the area for test drives since autumn 2025, but still without passengers.