Autonomous driving: 100 driverless shuttles are expected to operate in Île-de-France by 2030

Ile-de-France aims to accelerate the adoption of autonomous transportation. IDFM, the authority responsible for organizing public transport in the region, plans to have over a hundred driverless minibuses operating by 2030, with the first vehicles expected as early as 2028. These shuttles will complement existing transportation options in areas where services are limited.

First shuttles scheduled for 2028

When discussing autonomous driving, people often think of robotaxis. But another option is emerging. In Ile-de-France, the transportation authority is working to deploy autonomous shuttles as a genuine form of public transit. With an ambitious goal: having more than 100 such vehicles in service by 2030.

The project still needs to go through several stages before it can become a reality. Île-de-France Mobilités (IDFM) is currently working on defining the criteria that will be used to select vehicles, driving software, and autonomous systems. A tender is scheduled for 2027. The first minibuses are expected to enter service in 2028.

A complement to traditional transportation

Paris-Saclay, Versailles Grand Parc, and Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines are among the areas being considered. The goal is then to scale up quickly. IDFM aims to have around 20 autonomous shuttles by the end of 2029, followed by 100 in 2030. A total of 20 million euros will be allocated to this project each year.

These vehicles are not intended to replace the busiest bus or subway lines. With a capacity of about twelve passengers, their role would be to supplement the network in areas with lower demand. IDFM envisions using them in underserved zones or during off-peak hours. In the long term, Valérie Pécresse even hopes that these services could be included in the Navigo subscription.

What technology?

So, what about the technology? IDFM should logically prefer a European or even French solution, but the authority insists that safety and reliability will remain priorities. This is all the more important since the project also aims to help develop an industrial sector capable of producing these autonomous shuttles in series.

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France isn’t starting from scratch in this area. EasyMile, a company based in Toulouse, has already supplied tested shuttles in Île-de-France. Renault, Keolis, Alstom, Equans, and StatInf are also participating in the Mach2 project, which aims to deploy autonomous shuttles in the city center of Châteauroux. All these players could help develop France’s industry in this field.