Keolis unveils autonomous mobility test site in France

Keolis, Châteauroux Metropole and the French Shooting Federation have concluded a partnership agreement to authorise the autonomous vehicle tests carried out by the Group at the National Centre for Shooting Sports (CNTS), located near Châteauroux in the centre of France. 

The partnership will reportedly enable Keolis to pursue its development in autonomous vehicle fleet management by conducting operational tests aimed at improving vehicle operation and the vehicles’ capacity to adapt to different traffic environments. 

The site is 80 hectares, closed to traffic and will be made available to Keolis to train new operators, test new autonomous mobility solutions and grow its expertise in fleet management of “fully autonomous” vehicles without operators on board. 

From January 2020, the partnership will allegedly see the trial of a fleet of autonomous vehicles (Autonom Cab) to facilitate transport services to the CNTS for visitors. Accessible via a digital app, the fleet will serve different points of interest at the centre (car park, reception, shooting range).   

Since deploying its first autonomous shuttle service in Lyon in September 2016, some 15 autonomous shuttles operated by Keolis have reportedly covered more than 80,000 km and carried more than 200,000 passengers on sites in France, Australia, Belgium, Canada, the U.S. and the UK.