BARCELONA, Spain — For the past week, commuters in downtown Barcelona have enjoyed free bus rides. The only catch? There’s no driver behind the wheel.
This autonomous mini-bus smoothly pulls away from stops, navigates traffic, and carefully brakes before switching lanes, all without human intervention.
The French automaker Renault, in collaboration with autonomous vehicle company WeRide, is currently testing this innovative driverless bus on a 2.2-kilometer (1.3-mile) circular route with four stops in the heart of Barcelona. Passengers can hop on for free and experience the future of public transportation.
Renault first unveiled the prototype at the French Open last year and is now trialing it on real city streets. Similar tests are also underway in Valence, France, and Zurich airport.
One of the passengers, 18-year-old student Pau Cugat, was amazed by the experience.
“We just passed a regular city bus running on a combustion engine, and I thought, ‘That’s the bus of the past, while this one is the future,’” he said.
Driverless taxis and buses are already being tested in cities like San Francisco and Tokyo. However, Europe has been slower to adopt this technology compared to the U.S. and China, where fierce competition is driving rapid advancements.
“The U.S. and China are leading the way in autonomous vehicle testing,” said Patrick Vergelas, head of Renault’s autonomous mobility projects. “In Europe, progress has been slower, which is why we’re eager to demonstrate that this technology works and is ready for public transportation.”
The electric bus can travel up to 120 kilometers (75 miles) on a single charge and reach speeds of 40 kilometers per hour (25 mph). Equipped with 10 cameras and eight lidars (laser sensors), it safely navigates busy streets filled with cars, motorcycles, and pedestrians.
Carlos Santos from Renault’s autonomous driving team said the public’s reactions have been mixed.
“We’ve seen everything — some people smile, others cry, take photos, or even try to open the doors,” he said. “But I assure you, the ride is completely safe.”
Barcelona’s city officials confirmed that there have been no accidents or incidents reported during the trial.
