The Federal Government is funding driverless “Marktliners” (Market Liners) for Aachen. The so-called E-Mover could already be in operation before the end of 2019.

Travelling with a driverless bus that runs every 7.5 minutes between Aachen’s Main Railway Station and Market Place – this could become a reality within the next two years. The Federal Government has now approved an application by the City of Aachen for funding under its “Förderprogramm Saubere Luft 2017-2020” (Funding Programme Clean Air 2017-2020).
The project will, of course have to start with a thorough feasibility study, but the first driverless electric bus could already be rolling through Aachen’s streets before the end of 2019. However, there are a number of tasks that need to be managed before that happens. For example, the buses will have to be integrated per software into the fleet management system of Aachen’s bus company, the ASEAG. And the driverless bus – the “e.GO People Mover” = won’t actually be completely driverless on its journeys through town. The maximum degree of automation aimed for will be what is called “Level 4 – High Automation”. This means that a human driver will still be present on board to take over control of the vehicle if necessary. The Federal Government will cover half of the costs for this pioneer project; the approved funding amounts to 1.8 million Euros.