Spain's first autonomous bus is now operating in Madrid. Alsa has launched a 100% electric, driverless vehicle within Mercamadrid, with capacity for over 30 passengers and an on-demand system that adapts the route according to user requests.
Mercamadrid is hosting Spain's first autonomous on-demand bus since this July. A 100% electric vehicle, with capacity for over 30 passengers, that operates without human intervention during the journey and, during low demand hours, only runs when users request it through a mobile app.
This initiative is part of the European project MobilitiesForEU, led by the Madrid City Council through its Digital Office and Mercamadrid, in collaboration with Alsa. The vehicle, manufactured by Otokar, incorporates connected mobility technologies, autonomous driving, and zero emissions (CCAM), resulting from two years of research by Alsa's Engineering, Innovation, and Digitalization teams alongside the city's Digital Office.
SAE Level 4+ autonomy and onboard supervision
The bus operates with a SAE Level 4+ autonomous driving capability, allowing it to complete the route and make decisions autonomously. However, it still has an operator on board who supervises the service. The next step, according to Alsa, will be to progress towards remote control of the vehicle from an operations centre located outside the premises.
The pioneering nature of the project lies in three elements that have not previously been combined in a regular public service: a large capacity vehicle — over 30 seats, compared to the small autonomous shuttles used to date — its operation in a highly complex operational environment like Mercamadrid, and the incorporation of an on-demand transport system that adapts the route based on user requests.
From fixed route to on-demand service
During peak hours, between 4:30 and 9:00 AM, the bus operates as a conventional line, when thousands of workers access the facility. But when demand decreases, the service changes completely: users must request their service from a mobile app. The system groups requests, calculates the most efficient route, and automatically sends the route to the vehicle, which executes it autonomously.
That this technology is being tested specifically in Mercamadrid is no coincidence. Spain's largest logistics platform constitutes a particularly demanding environment: nearly 9,000 people work there daily, about 20,000 access it, and around 15,000 vehicles circulate, including trucks, vans, and cars. Although it is a closed circuit, the project demonstrates how these solutions can operate in real traffic conditions, sharing space with pedestrians and intense traffic.
Another step in Alsa's autonomous mobility strategy
With this initiative, Alsa continues the operation of the first autonomous 'shuttle' vehicle that the company has been running since 2020 at the Autonomous University of Madrid, a route within the campus integrated into the regular lines of the Madrid Regional Transport Consortium. The launch of this project represents a new boost in the company's strategy for developing and implementing innovative and sustainable mobility solutions within the framework of public-private collaboration.
“This autonomous bus is an example of how innovation can improve mobility in complex environments. Mercamadrid is the perfect laboratory to test this technology before bringing it to the city's streets,” said Alsa sources.
The 100% electric vehicle also contributes to the sustainability goals of the city of Madrid, reducing emissions and noise in an environment where logistics and transport are intensive. For workers and visitors at Mercamadrid, the service provides a flexible and efficient alternative, especially during off-peak hours when the bus only runs if someone needs it.
The project, which is part of the Madrid City Council's strategy to promote smart mobility, could lay the groundwork for future autonomous bus lines in the capital. For now, Madrid residents can already see how the future of autonomous driving circulates among the loading docks of Mercamadrid.
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