Autonomous bus collides with tram on its debut in Sweden

An autonomous bus in Gothenburg, Sweden, experienced a collision with a tram just an hour into its inaugural passenger service on Monday. The incident, which occurred in the Kapellplatsen area, led to a temporary halt in traffic between Kapellplatsen and Vasaplatsen.

Västtrafik, the public transport company operating the bus, confirmed the collision. A spokesperson stated that the bus "braked and was hit from behind by a tram," with the exact circumstances still under investigation. While the autonomous vehicle had been undergoing testing without passengers since late March, Monday marked its first day transporting the public.

Despite the unfortunate start, no injuries were reported on either the bus or the tram, with only minor damage to the vehicles. "Obviously, it's an unfortunate start, but we are glad that no one was injured," a company representative told local media. The bus has been removed from service for technical inspection.

The accident has renewed discussions about the challenges of deploying autonomous driving technology in cities. The bus is part of an experimental program authorized by the Swedish Transport Agency, with a driver on board capable of taking manual control if necessary. The program is currently approved to run until July 2027.