Level 4 driverless electric bus starts service in the Netherlands — here's its route

Turkish manufacturer Karsan has launched a fully autonomous fourth-generation electric minibus, the e-ATAK, at the Efteling amusement park in the Netherlands. The park is one of Europe's oldest theme parks, opened in 1952 and famous for its "Fairytale Forest" featuring characters from the Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault.

The bus operates at SAE Level 4 autonomy. It runs on a fixed 6-kilometer route between the main entrance, the Wonder Hotel area, and other stops, navigating mixed traffic alongside cyclists, pedestrians, and cars. The service is completely free for park visitors and is equipped for passengers with reduced mobility.

SAE Level 4 means the vehicle can drive without a driver but only on strictly controlled routes and under specific conditions. In this case, the route is pre-mapped with approved limits for weather, traffic, and speed. The autonomous driving system is supplied by Turkish company ADASTEC. It is not specified whether a safety operator is required on board or if the system is monitored remotely — remote monitoring is often used in early public trials.

This is the first autonomous bus to receive permission to operate on public roads in the province of North Brabant. The minibus is powered by a TM4 electric motor with 230 kW output and a lithium-ion battery.