MVG's involvement in BVG and Hamburg's high-speed rail system: an explanation.
In a significant move towards the future of public transportation, the cities of Munich, Berlin, and Hamburg have formed a regional alliance to collaborate on the deployment of autonomous vehicles. The Munich Transport Company (MVG), Berlin Transport Company (BVG), and Hamburger Hochbahn have joined forces to shape the future of public transport in a customer-centric manner.
The collaboration, which is based on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), will primarily focus on autonomous driving, a joint mobility platform, and standardized distribution systems. The aim is to create a common digital and uniform ticket purchasing system across all three cities, ensuring a seamless travel experience for passengers.
MVG CEO Ingo Wortmann emphasizes the potential for collaboration among strong transport companies in achieving economies of scale through joint initiatives, with a focus on automation. He states that a powerful network of bus lines will continue to be the backbone of the bus offering in Munich.
From as early as next year, Munich will test an autonomous bus without drivers, while Berlin aims for the first approval of autonomous vehicles in 2027. By 2030, autonomous solo buses are expected to be in service. Munich aims to have 500 autonomous buses on its streets by 2035, contributing to the overall goal for all three cities to have up to 2,000 autonomous public transport vehicles on the roads by 2035.
The joint passenger app, Max, is expected to launch in the second half of 2026. Currently, BVG and HVV are already working on Max, which offers route information, ticket purchases, and additional services like car rentals and e-scooters. The app is open to other transport providers in principle, indicating a broader scope for the collaboration.
Last year, the Berlin Senate Administration and the city of Hamburg signed a similar agreement, marking the beginning of this collaborative approach in the public transport sector. The alliance's goal is to create a more efficient, customer-friendly, and sustainable public transport system across the three cities.
As the first driverless public transport vehicles in shuttle size and midibuses become available from 2027/2028, the cities are taking a significant step towards the future of public transport. Discussions are ongoing regarding the integration of MVG into the Max app process, further strengthening the collaboration among the three cities. The cooperation is a testament to the cities' commitment to shaping the future of public transport collaboratively and in a customer-centric manner.
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