French car maker Renault is working with WeRide to show how autonomous public transport can play a major role in helping authorities and operators prepare the future of mobility.

With WeRide, Renault is conducting multiple trials across Europe, both to demonstrate the maturity of the autonomous technologies implemented, but also the relevance of its automated electric MiniBus.

Whether in the heart of large cities, suburban areas or constrained environments, autonomous MiniBuses are said to offer a tangible way to transform public mobility into more accessible, efficient and sustainable mobility.

In May 2024, Renault unveiled its autonomous vehicle strategy (media.renaultgroup.com/autonomous-vehicle-renault-group-to-soon-launch-an-ambitious-level-4-offer-for-public-transportation) and launched with its Chinese partner WeRide an open-road experiment, with two autonomous MiniBuses running during the French Open tennis tournament.

With 1000km covered and nearly 700 people transported, this first full-scale test demonstrated the maturity of the technology as well as the relevance of this type of passenger transport. Following this experiment, many mobility players, such as local authorities, transport operators and private site managers, have shown their interest in operating this in their territories. More trials are already underway across Europe, in Zurich, Valencia and Barcelona. Several more will be announced soon.

This month, Renault and WeRide are allowing the general public to discover the urban mobility of tomorrow, with two autonomous electric MiniBuses on a 2.2km open road loop in the heart of Barcelona.

By developing autonomous shuttles in a dense and complex urban environment, the experiment demonstrates the maturity of technologies for automated public transport. It also expresses Renault’s vision of the future of public transport in Europe: autonomous mobility as a means of making cities more liveable, transport more accessible, and mobility more efficient and sustainable.

After an trial running till next month, the implementation of a commercial service of level-four automated shuttles is targeted from July 2025. French private public transport operator Beti, vehicle insurer Macif, WeRide and Renault are deploying an automated mobility network in Valence, France, to connect a TGV railway station to many players in the 162-hectare business park that surrounds it.

The 3.3km open road route of the two shuttles meets the concrete needs of users of the Valence TGV station, as well as the 150 companies and their 3000 employees, by serving the station, the remote long-term car park and the catering hub of the business park.

The trial being conducted by WeRide at Zurich Airport this year aims to make it easier for employees to travel between terminals. It thus demonstrates the ability of autonomous technologies to operate in complex environments and meet the requirements of safety and reliability such as that of an airport.

For individual vehicles, in current market conditions, Renault is focusing on advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), adaptive cruise control and lane keeping systems. These L2 or L2+ assistance systems can improve safety and comfort while leaving the driver responsible for driving.

However, Renault has made agility a priority, and says it remains attentive to developments, particularly in costs and regulations, and should be able to offer options for individual vehicles with higher levels of autonomy when market conditions are right.

For public transport, Renault sees a relevance in offering L4 autonomous vehicles in the short term; these can manage driving situations on their own, with remote supervision, but without an operator on board. Faced with the rise of low-emission zones, cities and local authorities will face problems in public transport. It is estimated that several thousand autonomous electric MiniBuses will be needed in the coming decade. These have demonstrated their effectiveness through various trials, opening prospects for a flexible, accessible, secure and carbon-free offering.

As a pioneer in carbon-free mobility, Renault is considering offering a robotised electric MiniBus platform by 2030, capable of integrating automation from specialised partners.

With more than 1200 autonomous vehicles in operation, including 300 MiniBuses, which have travelled more than 40 million kilometres in Asia, the Middle East and North America, WeRide (www.weride.ai) is recognised for open-road vehicle automation. Renault (www.renaultgroup.com) is working with WeRide to develop automated public transport in Europe with L4 autonomy.