The Norwegian city of Stavanger has become one of Europe’s most advanced real-world environments for autonomous public transport. While many early autonomous shuttle projects were short-lived or confined to segregated test areas, Stavanger has moved significantly further: since 2022, a battery-electric autonomous midibus — the Karsan e-ATAK — has been operating in public transport service on urban roads. The project is widely regarded as one of the most advanced implementations of Level 4 bus automation in Europe.
From shuttle pilots to full-size autonomous buses
Initial autonomous trials in the Stavanger region began in 2017, when the public transport authority Kolumbus tested small driverless shuttles in the Forus business district. These early pilots focused primarily on first- and last-mile connectivity in controlled environments, providing valuable operational data for future deployments.
We reported here:
The introduction of the Karsan e-ATAK marked a significant step forward. The 8.3-metre battery-electric midibus was developed by Turkish manufacturer Karsan in cooperation with autonomous driving specialist ADASTEC. The vehicle is equipped with SAE Level 4 automation technology, enabling it to operate without active driver input on predefined routes. It accommodates up to 52 passengers and uses a combination of LiDAR, radar, high-resolution cameras, GNSS positioning and high-definition mapping.
In June 2022, the autonomous e-ATAK entered passenger service in Stavanger. According to Karsan, this represented the first full-size autonomous bus operating in scheduled public transport service in Europe.
Expansion of operational scope
While early operations were limited to relatively simple urban routes, the service was expanded in 2023 to include more complex environments. The bus now operates in mixed traffic conditions, including signalised intersections and a tunnel of approximately 800 metres in length. According to the manufacturer, this made it the first autonomous bus in Europe to operate in regular passenger service through a road tunnel.
Operations are managed by Kolumbus in cooperation with the operator Vy Buss. The vehicle is monitored via the xFlow fleet management platform developed by Applied Autonomy, enabling remote supervision of autonomous operations.
A video of the operation is available here:
Regulatory framework in Norway
Equally important as the technology is the Norwegian regulatory approach. Norway introduced dedicated legislation for the testing of autonomous vehicles on public roads in 2017. This framework allows operators to conduct trials and limited commercial deployments under specific approval from the authorities.
The Norwegian Public Roads Administration (Statens vegvesen) is responsible for issuing permits. Each deployment requires detailed safety cases, risk assessments and operational procedures tailored to the specific route and vehicle configuration.
Initially, the Stavanger e-ATAK operated with a safety driver on board. After extended testing and validation, approval was granted in 2026 for driverless operation without a safety driver on selected sections of the route. This marks a significant milestone for autonomous public transport in Europe.
Step-by-step automation rather than disruption
The Stavanger approach differs from many robotaxi-style deployments. Rather than pursuing immediate full autonomy across an entire network, Norway has adopted an incremental model with clearly defined routes, extensive monitoring and gradual expansion of operational scope.
This makes buses a particularly suitable application for autonomous technology. Unlike private vehicles, bus routes are fixed, stops are predefined, and operating environments can be mapped and controlled to a much greater extent.
A model for Europe?
Whether Stavanger can serve as a blueprint for wider deployment remains to be seen. However, the combination of electric propulsion, Level 4 automation and a pragmatic regulatory framework has positioned Norway as one of the leading countries in autonomous public transport.
The recent approval for driverless operation without a safety driver marks a new phase in the project. The key question now is whether the system can be scaled beyond a single vehicle and extended to a larger fleet in regular passenger service.
09.06.2026
