ZF Plans Autonomous-Shuttle Service in 2021

ZF Friedrichshafen AG and its 2getthere B.V. subsidiary plan to launch an autonomous shuttle service at the Brussels airport in 2021 to transport passengers between the terminal and long-term parking.

Tests without passengers are being conducted this year at 2getthere’s facility in Utrecht, Netherlands. Additional evaluations will follow next year at the airport, with a goal of launching passenger service in 2021.

The initiative is part of a step-by-step deployment that ZF CEO Wolf-Henning Scheider envisions for autonomous vehicles. He doesn’t expect fully autonomous Level 5 vehicles will be operating on public streets until about 2030.

Scheider tells Automotive News he is skeptical about other company announcements regarding near-term plans for self-driving vehicles. Noting public hesitation about riding in robotic vehicles, Scheider says autonomous shuttles will help people feel more feel comfortable about the technology.

ZF acquired a 60% share of 2getthere in March. The German supplier also is developing its own autonomous vehicle sensors and other enabling technologies.