Hervanta robot bus service extended until November 2028 after remote monitoring milestone

The Tampere Regional Public Transport Committee has exercised contract options to extend autonomous robot bus operations in Hervanta until 19 November 2028.

According to YLE, the committee said the project includes evaluating how the service performs and what its economic effects are. Tampere officials also noted that it is the first commercially implemented Finnish public transport service operating with remote monitoring.

The extension forms part of preparations to use autonomous vehicles as feeder services to the light rail and other local transport. The development project has studied the robot bus’s operational viability, economic impacts and the technical and regulatory requirements for introducing autonomous services.

The robot bus has run on route 301 from Lintuhytti to Hervantajärvi since August 2025. In June 2026 the service entered a new phase when the vehicle began operating without an onboard safety driver and was monitored from a remote control centre, the first time a robot bus has run in commercial public transport in Finland under remote supervision. The extension continues this testing and development following the July launch of the remotely monitored commercial robot bus on route 301.

According to YLE, the decision to continue beyond the original November contract expiry was made on 26 August. During the extension period, the city and project partners will continue tests and development, with work focused on increasing service frequency and proving remote-monitored operation in winter conditions.

The option periods run from 16 November 2026 to 19 November 2028. During that time the city and project partners will continue tests and development. Work will focus on increasing service frequency and proving remote-monitored operation in winter conditions.

The committee used procurement options included in the contract to reach the decision; its agendas and minutes record the resolution.