Swedish self-driving bus crashes on first day

Photo for illustration. (Photo: Johan Nilsson / AFP)

A self-driving bus was involved in a collision with a tram on Monday. It was the first day that the Swedish bus carried passengers.

The bus was immediately withdrawn for inspection, Patrik Chi, spokesman for the transport company Västtrafik, told AFP.

“The self-driving bus with passengers on board braked and was hit from behind by a tram. There were no injuries,” he said.

The bus has been traveling around central Gothenburg since the end of March, but Monday was the first day the bus carried passengers.

A driver was on board the vehicle to take over control if necessary.

Sweden’s transport agency, Transportstyrelsen, granted permission for the bus to transport passengers for a trial run that would last until 31 July 2027.

Self-driving buses and shuttle services in Europe currently operate under local authorizations granted on a city-by-city and route-by-route basis, often on private roads.

The European Union has not yet granted approval for the commercial deployment of driverless public transport or robotaxis right across Europe.