Karsan’s Autonomous e-ATAK bus is set to commence passenger transport services in Paris as part of a new cooperation with RATP.
From September 2025, the 8-metre Autonomous e-ATAK will run along the 4.5-kilometre Route 393 between Sucy-Bonneuil RER and Thiais–Carrefour de la Résistance.
This marks the next operational phase for the e-ATAK, a Level 4 autonomous vehicle which has been in pilot use across several European countries.
The Paris deployment will see e-ATAK operating in mixed traffic, with passengers on board, for an initial six-month period. Prior to launch, the vehicle is undergoing a series of static and dynamic assessments by UTAC, France’s national vehicle testing and certification authority. These are due to conclude at the end of August.
The project is part of RATP’s ongoing efforts to assess autonomous solutions in public transport.
Karsan CEO Okan Baş said:This project, which we're carrying out with RATP, is a new milestone that contributes to the future of sustainable and smart mobility. With this cooperation, Karsan will be strongly reflecting not only technology but also its vision to steer Europe's mobility transformation.
The Autonomous e-ATAK has been developed in collaboration with ADASTEC, whose Level 4 software underpins the vehicle’s autonomous functions. The vehicle has previously been deployed in cities including Stavanger (Norway), Prague, and Istanbul.
According to Karsan, the cooperation with RATP strengthens the manufacturer’s presence in Europe and aligns with broader goals for low-emission, technology-enabled public mobility.
The results of the Paris trial may inform future decisions about the broader use of autonomous minibuses in urban transport, particularly in fixed-route services and lower-density areas.
