TIER IV Helps Adapt Autoware for Munich Autonomous City Bus
What happened
TIER IV and the Technical University of Munich announced on November 11, 2026, that they are working together to adapt the Autoware open-source autonomous driving system for use in a full-size city bus in Munich. The project is part of the RISE initiative, which has received up to €20 million in funding from the German Federal Ministry of Transport. Testing will start with controlled trials at a closed site in Ottobrunn and later move to real-world operations on two Munich public transit routes, with safety personnel present on board. The project involves several partners, including MAN Truck & Bus, which is responsible for the bus's control systems.
Key details
- RISE project funding period: October 1, 2026, to September 30, 2029
- Autoware-based system draws on experience from Japanese bus deployments
- MAN Truck & Bus provides the vehicle's autonomous actuation and low-level software
- Testing will progress from closed-site trials to MVG routes with safety staff onboard
- Consortium partners include City of Munich, SWM, MVG, and multiple universities
Why it matters
Public transport operators in Munich and their technology partners will be able to test and refine autonomous bus technology in real-world conditions, supported by federal funding. The project gives researchers and manufacturers a structured environment to adapt and validate open-source autonomous driving systems for European city buses. The findings and methods from these trials could be shared with the open-source community, potentially making it easier for other cities and companies to implement similar systems.