Israel to start self-driving public bus pilot programme

Israel has launched a two-year pilot programme in which four companies will operate self-driving public buses in a bid to ease road congestion, the country’s innovation authority said.

The authority, along with the transportation Mministry and Ayalon Highways, chose four groups – including Egged, Israel’s largest bus operator – that will start running independent autonomous buses on public roads.

The state is providing half of an investment of 61 million shekels ($17 million) for the pilot that will be done in two stages with the goal of examining the viability of integrating autonomous vehicles into Israel’s public transport system.

In phase one, companies will carry out pilots on self-driving buses in a closed area and in operational areas, with the aim of proving technological, regulatory, safety and business feasibility.

In the second stage, they will operate an autonomous bus lines on public roads, at a range that will increase throughout the two-year pilot period.

The four groups participating include companies from Israel, the United States, France, Turkey and Norway.