Sweden has recorded an early setback in its autonomous transport trials after a self-driving bus was hit by a tram in Gothenburg just over an hour after beginning passenger operations.
The incident occurred on Monday in central Gothenburg near Kapellplatsen, during the inaugural passenger run of an autonomous bus operated as part of a regional public transport pilot programme.
According to the regional transport operator Västtrafik, the bus began carrying passengers at around 10 a.m. local time before the collision happened shortly afterwards.
The vehicle, a Karsan Autonomous e-ATAK manufactured by Turkish company Karsan, slowed down in traffic before being struck from behind by a tram. No injuries were reported among passengers or staff on board either vehicle.
At the time of the incident, the bus was carrying a single regular passenger along with several Västtrafik employees participating in the trial run. A safety driver was also present on board, in line with operational requirements for the pilot programme.
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The autonomous service is part of Sweden’s broader effort to test self-driving public transport systems in urban environments, with the aim of improving efficiency, reducing emissions and exploring future mobility solutions.
Västtrafik said the vehicle was immediately taken out of service following the collision and returned to the depot for inspection and potential repairs.
The operator expressed regret over the incident and said a full investigation would be carried out to determine the cause of the crash and assess any technical or operational failures.
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Preliminary reports indicate the bus had slowed down in traffic when it was struck from behind by an approaching tram, raising questions about coordination between autonomous systems and conventional rail traffic in shared urban corridors.
While autonomous vehicles are increasingly being tested across Europe, including buses, taxis and delivery systems, safety concerns remain central to their deployment, particularly in complex mixed-traffic environments.
Authorities say the findings from the investigation will be used to improve safety protocols and refine the technology before wider deployment is considered.
The trial remains ongoing, but the incident highlights the challenges facing autonomous transport systems as they move from controlled testing environments into real-world urban operations.
