The focus: the focus: pioneering work in autonomous driving 2025!

The focus: the focus: pioneering work in autonomous driving 2025!

On April 13, 2025, Suraa (Smart Urban Region Austria Alps Adriatic) starts with a number of initiatives that are supposed to revolutionize autonomous driving in Austria. The company has established itself as a pioneer in the field of autonomous vehicles and is proud to be one of the five finalists of the "4th Dubai World Challenge for Self-Driving 2025". In 2024, Suraaa realized two milestones: the first fleet operation with autonomous shuttles and the first autonomous on-demand operation in Austria.

In Klagenfurt, the autonomous shuttles transported more than 3,300 passengers in just three months and covered over 4,100 kilometers. The test track used for this extends over 9 kilometers and combines important points, such as the West Bahnhof, the University and the Lakeside Park. On this route, which is equipped with five traffic lights, a roundabout and motorway supplements, the shuttles reach a maximum speed of 20 km/h, at an average maximum speed of 18 km/h. The degree of automation of the shuttles amounts to around 97 %.

pioneering work in the region

The test operation, which explained in June 2024, took place without passengers, but a safety operator was on board to ensure security. These test drives have provided significant data to improve the technology. Suraaa has also organized citizens' dialogues and workshops to actively integrate the population into the process and to strengthen confidence in the new technologies.

The use of the autonomous shuttles is made possible by an on-demand service that is controlled via an app from Ioki, which ensures flexible use of the vehicles. In addition, there has been an autonomous Busshuttle route in Pörtschach on Lake Wörthersee, which is 2.7 kilometers long and is already successful. In 2024, the topic of autonomous driving in Carinthia even attracted international attention, and EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn visited the region to find out about the developments.

future developments and challenges

For the year 2025, Suraaa plans to further intensify the development of autonomous vehicles and at the same time support around 15 other projects. An industry event that deals with the topic of autonomous driving has been announced for the 6th and 7th May 2025. In addition, Suraaa will present the results of the EU mobility project Show, which will be completed at the end of 2024 and in which over 69 project partners from 13 EU countries work together to redesign the mobility of the future.

The challenges that arise from urbanization, climate change and demographic change make it clear that there is an urgent need for action. Companies, municipalities and traffic service providers are required to rethink mobility, towards multimodal and intelligent solutions. Fraunhofer-Allianz Verkehr has initiated various research projects that present technologies in the areas of digitization, intelligent transport systems and automation. These technologies are not only important for efficiency in traffic, but also to achieve climate goals.

The innovative strength that is in new mobility concepts illustrates the Fraunhofer lead project Albacopter®, which develops an experimental aircraft for urban traffic. These new technologies will be presented and discussed on the IAA Summit, which takes place from September 5th to 8th, 2023. ots.at continues to report on these developments and the ambitious plans of Suraa.

The Presented Solutions also contain new approaches such as integrated solar modules in vehicle roofs that can generate more energy than they consume. Such progress is crucial to make the mobility of the future sustainable and show the immense potential that is in intelligent transport systems. fraunhofer.de states that we develop today, further challenges of the future.