Photo: ZF GRT3 Autonomous Shuttle
Long before autonomous shuttles became one of the mobility industry’s major topics, ZF Friedrichshafen and its subsidiary 2getthere were already proving that driverless public transport could work reliably in daily operation.
Their complete electric and autonomous transit solution received the eMove360° Award in 2020. Six years later, the project remains a strong example of how autonomous mobility can move beyond prototypes and become a permanent and economically viable transport system.
At the time of the Award entry, 2getthere’s vehicles had already travelled more than 100 million kilometres autonomously and transported over 14 million passengers. The systems had been deployed in airports, business parks, city centres, resorts and new urban districts.
The innovation was not limited to the vehicle. ZF and 2getthere developed a complete system including autonomous vehicles, localisation technology, fleet supervision and operational software.
The TOMS platform managed route planning, dispatching, traffic control and fleet optimisation, while the FORCES software controlled the autonomous driving functions. A patented localisation system used invisible magnetic reference points embedded in the road surface, enabling accurate positioning and reliable operation in different weather conditions.
The third-generation Group Rapid Transit vehicle carried up to 22 passengers and reached speeds of 40 km/h. Its bidirectional design and doors on both sides allowed flexible integration into stations and existing infrastructure.
Opportunity charging enabled the vehicles to recharge during station stops. This supported continuous operation, reduced the number of vehicles required and limited the need for large charging depots.
Projects such as Rivium in the Netherlands demonstrated that autonomous shuttles can successfully complement existing public transport networks.
The 2020 Award winner therefore remains highly relevant today: autonomous mobility succeeds when vehicles, infrastructure, software, safety and economic feasibility are developed as one integrated system.
Could your innovation become the next eMove360° Award winner?
Apply for the eMove360° Award for Electric & Autonomous Mobility 2026.
Application deadline: July 31, 2026
https://www.emove360.com/awards/emove360/
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