Autonomous driving is a key technology for the future of mobility - and Postbus is actively shaping this development. Together with its technology partner Otokar, Postbus is introducing the first bus with European Level 4 certification into scheduled public transit service in Austria. Following its unveiling at a press conference, the vehicle will begin pilot operations at the European Forum Alpbach before moving on to Wolfurt, where it will gain practical experience in regular service at the industrial park.
A Foundation for Further Autonomous Mobility Solutions
For Postbus, this is about more than just a new vehicle: As Austria’s largest bus company, we want to build expertise early on, test new technologies, and harness their potential for public transportation. With our first autonomous vehicle, we’re demonstrating that autonomous driving isn’t just a vision that will become reality sometime in the distant future - we’re making it clear just how close the future already is. The experience gained in Alpbach and Wolfurt lays the foundation for deploying autonomous mobility solutions in other regions and for new applications - such as the first and last mile - in the future.
What Level 4 means
Autonomous driving is defined internationally using the so-called SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) levels (0 to 5), an internationally recognized automation scale for autonomous driving.
Level 4 means that the bus can, in principle, handle the driving task independently within a clearly defined operating area. However, under current Austrian law, a safety driver is still required on board.