Rheinmetall AG, MIRA GmbH, and Rheinbahn AG will begin pilot operations of remotely operated on-demand shuttles at Düsseldorf Airport in May 2026. The three partners announced the project during the XPONENTIAL Europe trade fair. The shuttle route will connect the airport railway station and the EUREF Campus with the terminal on public roads.
Highlights
- Rheinmetall, MIRA, and Rheinbahn will pilot teleoperated on-demand shuttles at Düsseldorf Airport starting May 2026.
- Certified remote drivers will operate the vehicles from a remote operations center, with safety drivers on board during the test phase.
- The pilot is part of the PoQuaSIA research project, funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy under the European 8ra initiative.
- Findings will inform potential future deployment in public transport, logistics, and agriculture.
How the Pilot Works
The project will test remote vehicle operation as a technology for deploying on-demand shuttle services in urban settings. Certified remote drivers will control the vehicles from an operations center. During the test phase, a safety driver will ride along as an added precaution. The goal is to evaluate the technology under real traffic conditions.
The pilot focuses on four areas: operational safety and system stability, integration into existing traffic and control structures, passenger acceptance, and cost efficiency and scalability.
Addressing Public Transit Challenges
Rheinbahn CEO Annette Grabbe framed the project as a response to structural pressures facing public transit operators.
“Public transport is facing structural challenges regarding staffing and financing. If we want to ensure reliable service, we must systematically explore technological options. That is why we are breaking new ground and testing technologies where they must prove their value: during day-to-day operations,” Grabbe said.
She added: “The pilot operation of teleoperated on-demand shuttles on public roads is an important step. Based on robust data, we will assess whether and how teleoperation can become a permanent part of our operating model. For us, the focus is not on the technology itself, but on its tangible added value for a high-performing, resilient and affordable public transport system. What matters is that new technologies help us make our operations more stable and deliver real everyday benefits for our passengers.”
From Pilot to Real-World Deployment
MIRA GmbH CEO Win Neidlinger said the project represents a step toward practical applications in public transport.
“With our teleoperation solution, we are making an important contribution to shaping a future-proof and resilient public transport system. By enabling efficient teleoperation of on-demand shuttles, we are helping to address staff shortages in a practical way, creating the basis for reliably and economic mobility services. This pilot operation marks an important milestone in elevating teleoperation beyond the pilot stage into concrete real-world applications in public transport,” Neidlinger said.
Düsseldorf Mayor Dr. Stephan Keller also emphasized the city’s role in enabling the project.
“Innovations like this do not emerge in isolation; they are the result of strong partnerships working together in practice. With Rheinbahn and MIRA, Düsseldorf is demonstrating in concrete terms how new technologies can perform in everyday operations. For us as a city, it is essential to create the right framework conditions and make projects like this possible. This is how we build a modern, high-performing public transport system that will continue to serve people reliably in the future – while also strengthening Düsseldorf as a hub for the mobility of tomorrow,” Keller said.
European Research Backing
The pilot is part of the PoQuaSIA research project, funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) under the European 8ra initiative. That initiative aims to build scalable digital infrastructure for safety-critical applications.
Rheinmetall and MIRA are developing an integrated system that combines secure cloud infrastructure, an IoT platform, and real-time fleet and route management. This backbone connects vehicles, operators, and operational processes in real time. It enables low latency, high availability, and the ability to scale across multiple vehicles — a prerequisite for cost-efficient teleoperated fleets and, eventually, autonomous ones.
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