Automated by ADASTEC: MAN's Electric City Bus Welcomes Test Passengers in Munich

Munich, Germany – November 3, 2026 – ADASTEC Corp., a leading software company specializing in SAE Level-4 automated driving solutions for public transit buses and commercial vehicles, announces a significant milestone in the MINGA project as MAN's fully electric Lion's City 12 E, automated by ADASTEC, moves from public-road testing to operation with test passengers on Munich's public transport network.

Starting November 17, the 12-meter automated electric bus will welcome selected test passengers on MVG route 178 in northern Munich. With more than 2,000 pre-registrations already received, the project reflects strong public interest in automated public transport. To mark the launch, the MINGA project partners welcomed members of the press for an initial test ride on November 3, offering a firsthand experience of the automated bus ahead of the passenger testing phase.

The automated MAN Lion's City 12 E will operate Monday through Friday between Petuelring and Freimanner Hölzl as an additional vehicle on an existing public transport route. Passenger testing will take place within a closed user group and is scheduled to continue until June 2027, providing valuable insights into passenger acceptance and the operational integration of automated buses in urban environments.

Within the broader 16-partner MINGA project, the route 178 operation involves MAN Truck & Bus, Stadtwerke München (SWM), Münchner Verkehrsgesellschaft (MVG), and the Mobility Department of the City of Munich, with ADASTEC serving as MAN's automated driving technology partner. While MAN and ADASTEC contribute their respective vehicle engineering and automated driving expertise, SWM and MVG are responsible for integrating the test operation into Munich's existing bus network, including conducting the test rides and providing information and support to participating passengers.

Inside MAN's Automated Electric Bus: ADASTEC's Driving Technology in Action

At the core of the automated MAN Lion's City 12 E is ADASTEC's flowride.ai, an SAE Level-4 automated driving software platform integrated into MAN's electric bus architecture. The platform is designed to perform the entire dynamic driving task, including fallback, within a defined operational design domain (ODD).

Equipped with an advanced sensor suite combining LiDAR, radar, cameras, and satellite-based positioning, the vehicle leverages ADASTEC's flowride.ai platform for comprehensive environmental perception and precise localization. Through advanced sensor fusion, real-time decision-making, motion planning, and vehicle control, flowride.ai enables the full-size bus to navigate complex urban traffic and respond to dynamic road conditions.

Munich's route 178 provides a diverse testing environment, incorporating main traffic arteries, 30 km/h zones, park areas, and underpasses. These varying traffic conditions allow the project partners to evaluate automated driving technology within the complexity of an existing city bus network.

Before deployment on public roads, the vehicle completed an extensive testing program at MAN's facilities, underwent the required technical inspections by TÜV, and completed further approval procedures. Since September, public-road testing has supported the collection and evaluation of route data in preparation for passenger operations.

Dr. Ali Peker, CEO of ADASTEC, commented:

“Germany represents a strategically important market for automated public transportation, with its strong automotive engineering expertise, established public transport networks, and rigorous regulatory framework. Bringing MAN's automated Lion's City 12 E to the passenger testing phase in Munich is a significant step for our collaboration. ADASTEC's years of international SAE Level-4 deployment experience, combined with MAN's expertise in commercial vehicle development, provide a strong foundation for this progress. Seeing passengers experience our technology on an existing public transport route is an important step toward integrating proven automated driving capabilities into everyday transit operations. What we are achieving together in Munich has significance beyond a single route, contributing to the wider adoption of full-size automated buses across Germany and Europe.”

Frederik Zohm, Executive Board Member for Research and Development at MAN Truck & Bus, said:

“With the first test rides, passengers can now experience our technology in everyday life. This is a decisive step.”

He further highlighted that gaining public trust is essential alongside safe and reliable technology, with insights from the MINGA project contributing to future vehicle development and applications.

More Than 2,000 Pre-Registrations Signal Strong Interest in Automated Public Transport

Interested members of the public can register via MVG to join the pool of test users. The Lion's City 12 E offers approximately 30 seats and one wheelchair space, allowing selected participants to experience automated public transportation under realistic conditions.

Passenger feedback will form an important part of the project’s ongoing research. The Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the University of Stuttgart are scientifically supporting the test operation, examining passenger acceptance, perceived safety, and accessibility through voluntary surveys, interviews, and observational studies.

Sinaida Cordes, Authorized Signatory at SWM and MVG, stated:

“For MVG as the operator of public transportation, operation with test users is an important step: Technical testing is turning into a service that passengers can experience under real-world conditions. This allows us to gain valuable insights for the safe, practical, and customer-focused integration of autonomous buses into public transportation.”

Cordes added that the decisive question for MVG is whether and how automated buses can be scaled and, in the future, integrated reliably and economically into scheduled service. She noted that the automated 12-meter bus is the first vehicle of this size MVG is testing, offering potential for high-capacity use in regular bus operations.

Since 2023, the MINGA research project has brought together 16 partners from public administration, research, and industry to investigate how automated and connected mobility solutions can be integrated into existing transportation systems. Led by the Mobility Department of the City of Munich, the project is funded with approximately €13 million through mid-2027 by the German Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV).

The experience gained through MINGA's passenger testing phase will contribute to a deeper understanding of how automated driving technology can support the operational needs of established public transport networks. For ADASTEC, the collaboration with MAN represents another step in advancing its automated driving platform across different vehicle architectures and bringing scalable automated mobility closer to everyday public transportation.

Further information and passenger registration: mvg.de/minga-anmeldung