A self-driving electric bus in Gothenburg, Sweden, was involved in a crash just one hour after starting passenger service on May 25, 2026. The bus, made by Turkish company Karsan, suddenly braked on a shared road with trams. A tram behind it could not stop in time and hit the bus from the back.
Thankfully, no passengers or drivers were injured in the incident. A safety driver was present on board, as required during the trial. The bus has been taken out of service for full inspection. Officials from Västtrafik, the public transport company, confirmed there were no personal injuries, only minor damage to both vehicles.
The bus was operating on route 169 in central Gothenburg as part of a major pilot project. It had been running without passengers since March, but May 25 marked its first day carrying paying customers. The trial, approved until July 2027, tests autonomous public transport in real city traffic. The 8-metre-long Karsan e-ATAK bus can carry up to 52 people and uses software from ADASTEC.
This incident has raised new questions about the safety of self-driving vehicles in mixed traffic with trams, cars, and pedestrians. While Karsan believes the crash was not caused by the autonomous system, it adds to growing concerns after similar issues with robotaxis in other countries. Supporters say such tests are important for future transport, but people want stricter rules.
Västtrafik says they will review what happened before continuing the service. The event shows both the promise and challenges of driverless technology on busy city roads.
