Hamburg plans 10,000 autonomous vehicles

Hamburg is to become a "metropolitan model region for mobility". To this end, Hamburg's Transport Senator Anjes Tjarks (Greens) and Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) signed a declaration of intent in Berlin on Monday. Up to 10,000 autonomously driving cars by 2030 and driverless suburban trains are to be established in Hamburg as the first region in Germany for local transport, while also making the city more climate-friendly.

The overarching goal here, Wissing said, is to quickly advance the digitization of transportation and eventually apply the projects put on the road in Hamburg to cities and rural areas across Germany. "Digital traffic control can prevent traffic jams, driverless trains solve staffing problems. The autonomously driving truck can safely transport its freight even during off-peak hours, thus relieving road congestion. Digital solutions in transport also offer opportunities to achieve our climate targets. That's why digitization of the mobility sector is a very high priority for me." In order to achieve these goals, he said, digitization needs to be built up to provide a basis for appropriate solutions throughout Germany.

Hamburg is also working with Volkswagen and shared cab provider Moia to become a pioneer for public transportation, with an autonomously driving shared cab fleet to be deployed throughout the city in the future. The first test runs are planned for 2023 in the districts of Uhlenhorst and Winterhude. The service should be available from 2025.