A strategic guide to AV service models, governance and deployment pathways for European public transport.

This study is intended to support European public transport authorities and operators (PTAs/PTOs) as autonomous vehicle deployment moves from isolated pilots towards real service, policy and procurement decisions.

For European public transport, the central question is no longer simply whether the technology works, but how autonomous mobility should be governed, integrated and scaled in ways that support public transport objectives such as accessibility, network efficiency, coverage, affordability and sustainability.

By examining where AV deployment has moved beyond experimentation into repeatable public-facing service, the study identifies the governance choices, service models, procurement implications and regulatory conditions that matter most for European PT actors.

Its purpose is to help PTAs and PTOs make more informed decisions about the role AVs could play in their future networks, and under which institutional, operational and commercial conditions.