FRENCH CONSORTIUM TO DEPLOY FULLY AUTONOMOUS MINI BUSES IN DOWNTOWN CHÂTEAUROUX

The first deployment of a Level 4 (without an on-board supervisor) autonomous mobility service on this scale, this project, known as Mach2, marks a decisive step in the development of automated public transport in France, and Europe. The service will be operational from 2026 in the city centre of Châteauroux (in the department of Indre), integrated into the city's "Horizon" bus network, and operated by Keolis.

The consortium brings together French leaders in mobility, each contributing its own area of expertise: Renault Group for the robotized electric minibus platform, EasyMile for the autonomous driving system, StatInf for the validation of critical software elements, Equans for the Computer Aided Dispatch and Automatic Vehicle Location (CAD/AVL) system, Alstom for the connected safety infrastructure and communication protocols, and Keolis for the operation and maintenance of these new public transport services.

A technological and industrial breakthrough for a relevant service
This project addresses all aspects of autonomous mobility, to provide a real public transport service and strengthen France's leadership in this future market: the vehicle developed will be significantly larger and faster than the autonomous shuttles deployed today. The project also addresses the complex issue of interaction with emergency vehicles and connection with traffic light infrastructures. The supervision concept will be rethought in detail to allow a single supervisor to control a fleet of vehicles and guarantee the viability of the economic model for this new type of transport. All of these elements will be used to demonstrate compliance with the strictest safety standards at the French and European levels.

With a robust and reliable 6-meter minibus from the Renault range, this deployment of a genuine autonomous public transport service demonstrates the expertise of the French mobility sector. Conforming to public transport requirements, it will meet the demands of public and private players in terms of safety, passenger satisfaction and business development. Fully integrated into the Châteauroux "Horizon" bus network, this service will complete the local public transport offer, to make citizens' mobility easier, safer and more sustainable.

This project benefits from the official support of Châteauroux Métropole, the Indre department, the Ministry of the Interior and the PFA (Plateforme Automobile), as well as that of the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion, and Bpifrance. It demonstrates the relevance of this type of technology, including for medium-sized cities.