Self-driving bus in Gothenburg crashes with tram on first day of service

A self-driving bus in Gothenburg, Sweden, was rear-ended by a tram just one hour after beginning passenger service for the first time. The incident raises questions about the readiness of autonomous public transport. No details on injuries were immediately available.

A self-driving bus in Gothenburg, Sweden, was involved in a collision with a tram on Monday, just one hour after the vehicle had begun carrying passengers on its inaugural route. The incident occurred during what was meant to be a milestone moment for autonomous public transport in the country.

According to the local public transport authority, the tram struck the autonomous bus from behind shortly after the vehicle had started operating on the line. The timing of the accident — within the very first hour of service — has drawn significant attention to the safety protocols surrounding self-driving vehicles in real urban environments.

Gothenburg has been one of several European cities testing autonomous buses as part of broader efforts to modernize public transport and reduce reliance on human drivers. Monday's collision is likely to prompt a thorough review of how such vehicles interact with existing tram and road infrastructure in busy city centres.

Authorities have not yet released information regarding any injuries sustained in the accident. An investigation into the cause of the collision is expected to follow, with findings likely to influence the future rollout of similar autonomous transport projects across Sweden and beyond.