France: Navya’s Autonomous Bus Successfully Tested

The project, conducted jointly by Navya and Bluebus, started in 2021. Its goal is to develop “the first French industrial autonomous bus produced in series in accordance with automotive industry standards”.

Navya, a French company specializing in the development of autonomous driving systems, has begun testing the Autonom®, a shuttle developed in partnership with Bluebus (a subsidiary of the Bolloré group and manufacturer of electric buses). The experimentation takes place on the Transpolis Fromentaux test track, in the Ain department. The approximately 30 km of tests already conducted have been traveled in level 4 autonomous driving (on a scale that includes 5 levels). This means that the vehicle operates without a driver, at least under certain conditions.

During these tests, the shuttle follows routes mimicking urban itineraries. It stops at regular intervals at stations and must avoid obstacles. Navya reports being very satisfied with the results. According to the company, the shuttle’s “behavior has fully met expectations, both in terms of comfort and reassuring dynamics”. This success demonstrates that Navya’s technology can operate on existing rolling bases.

A “rapidly marketable” autonomous shuttle

“The performance achieved from the very first kilometers confirms our shared ambitions,” stated Olivier Le Cornec, CEO of Navya. With our industrial partner Bluebus, our goal is clear: we want the Bluebus Autonom® to become a true reference for series-produced autonomous buses.”

“We now have certainty that we possess a quickly marketable and efficient vehicle in terms of performance, reliability, and cost control,” believes Richard Bouveret, CEO of Bluebus, in his turn.

Although the testing phase is not yet complete, the next steps will follow quickly. The first commercial operations of the Autonom® are indeed scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2023.

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