Driverless buses are already legal in Germany, what’s stopping the rest of Europe? 

Europe’s autonomous vehicle ecosystem is accelerating, leading the way in regulatory clarity and infrastructure preparedness.

Germany, for example, is offering publicly legal Level 4 buses in defined zones, supported by the 2022 Autonomous Vehicles Approval and Operation Ordinance (AFGBV) and updated implementation guidelines issued in 2024, enabling transit authorities to test and deploy autonomous fleets with confidence.

Across Europe, pilot projects are growing, including Barcelona’s driverless minibus trial that has had no accidents reported over multiple public test weeks.

Imagry, an autonomous driving (AD) company whose software has been operating autonomous vehicles on public roads since 2019, is uniquely positioned to help Europe capitalize on this momentum. Their HD‑mapless, camera-based technology delivers scalable L4 autonomy for buses and shuttles, without the need for costly infrastructure updates or constant cloud connectivity.

Developed for existing urban environments and field-tested across diverse geographies, Imagry aligns perfectly with Europe’s evolving regulatory frameworks and pilot-first deployment models. Imagry’s autonomous bus solutions enable transit agencies to expand service zones, boost frequency and extend hours—all while operating safely and sustainably, even amid driver shortages.

Can European cities scale beyond isolated trials and build truly autonomous public fleets? Will regulatory harmonization across the EU unlock cross-border mobility services? How do transit operators prepare for the forthcoming demand—and public trust—around driverless transit? And how can operators deploy AVs across mixed-use cityscapes without upgrading infrastructure?

We have executives at Imagry available to discuss how they’re helping European transit systems embrace autonomy now—built for speed, safety and regulatory readiness.