Rotterdamse Elektrische Tram (RET) and DAM Shuttles have contracted Karsan to supply its Autonomous e-ATAK electric bus for public transport services to Rotterdam Airport.
Under this agreement, two Karsan Autonomous e-ATAK buses will operate on a 5-kilometre route between Meijersplein metro station and Rotterdam Airport to transport passengers and staff.
With this service, Karsan will be the first company globally to offer a dedicated autonomous airport transfer option. The contract also marks Karsan’s first export to the Netherlands.
“Autonomous e-ATAK is a model that has proven its success with awards and its services in the regions where it carries passengers. Owing to this project, we will be the first brand in the world to carry out airport transfers with an autonomous vehicle. Autonomous e-ATAK buses will pick up passengers from the Meijersplein metro station and transport them to the Rotterdam Airport. In the Netherlands, we maintain our attack on autonomous electric public transport, which we have initiated with Norway. We, as Karsan, will continue to pioneer the transformation in more countries.”
Karsan’s Autonomous e-ATAK, which was developed in partnership with ADASTEC, has already operated on routes in the USA, Norway, Turkey, Romania and France. In Norway, it also became the first self-driving vehicle in Europe to pass through a tunnel on its route.
Two of these vehicles will now be delivered to RET in November 2024. They will undergo road testing in December before commencing passenger service in January 2025.
“Our strategic partnership with Karsan plays a significant role in transforming public transport globally. Our ongoing cooperation since 2021 has allowed us to achieve many firsts in electric autonomous public transport. We blaze a trail as our vehicles, which will pick up their passengers from the Meijersplein metro station and take them to Rotterdam Airport, will serve at an airport for the first time in autonomous public transport. Under the leadership of RET, we are taking a crucial step towards lessening the environmental impact while offering our passengers a high comfort and environmentally friendly alternative.”
