Imagine a perfectly sunny day, with Lake Constance shimmering in the sunlight and the blue and white mountains in the distance. That was the backdrop for our day of discovery and innovation, bringing together Swiss and Austrian experts. Inspiring conversations sparked new ideas and fresh perspectives. In Arbon, we had the pleasure of welcoming SAAM Austria to explore the Self-Controlled City Liner (SCCL) project by TGA and Eurobus, and to get a first-hand look at how autonomous buses are already navigating real city streets.
Our day started in the best possible way: with a warm welcome from TGA, some local treats, and a brief presentation that gave us an overview of the project. The SCCL (Self-Controlled City Liner) was launched by the Technische Gesellschaft Arbon (TGA) in 2019 as part of its 100th anniversary celebrations, following a feasibility study initiated that same year.
The Self-Control CityLiner (SCCL) isn’t just a bus; it’s part of a larger vision for Arbon. The project brings together local partners, from Arbon Energie AG to Raiffeisenbank, to demonstrate how mobility can be sustainable, accessible, and connected to the community’s needs. Other key players include the City of Arbon, Eurobus Ostschweiz AG, and PostAuto AG, with a steering board chaired by Reto Stäheli (President of TGA) alongside representatives from local companies such as Arbon Energie, Larag AG, and Eurobus.
Barrier-free stops, multiple routes that can adapt when streets are blocked, and vehicles powered by electricity or hydrogen, all of which point to a city that is thinking ahead. The route itself connects the lake promenade and the old town with the new city center and the train station, covering about 2.5 km with nine stops, including the castle, medical center, swimming area, and museum. Every stop is fully accessible and designed in line with Swiss BehiG standards.
Then came the highlight: the ride itself.
The Autonomous Bus resembles any other city bus, but it’s equipped with LIDAR, radar, cameras, and software to make sense of it all. Two safety drivers joined us: one at the steering wheel, one monitoring the system, but they never had to intervene during our 30-minute ride. The model in use is a Karsan e-Atak electric bus (8.3 meters long, 20 seats, 230 kW engine, 220 kWh battery), automated by Adastec and Flowride.ai. It also features a remote-control function (teleoperation) and a passenger counting system to analyze usage and occupancy.
And honestly? The experience felt surprisingly normal. Without the safety drivers at the front, you could almost forget that the bus was driving itself. It stopped with precision at the ramps, making boarding easy for everyone, and it handled even the trickiest spots, such as when passing an oncoming truck on a narrow street with just a few centimeters of space, calmly and smoothly. During the presentation, TGA also highlighted that this project is part of Switzerland’s broader move toward “intelligent mobility.” Since March 2025, automated driving on public roads has been officially possible under ASTRA supervision, allowing pilot projects like SCCL to operate on real streets under close monitoring.
For our colleagues from SAAM Austria, this was a chance to see how Swiss projects are being implemented on the ground. As Isabella Hinterleitner, founder of Tech Meets Legal and member of SAAM Austria, pointed out, Austria has run three similar initiatives since 2019, though only one remains active today. What impressed her most in Arbon was the city’s holistic approach: combining route planning, barrier-free infrastructure, and strong community acceptance.
Doris Straub, leader of SAAM Austria, shared her own impressions:
My first thought was: this isn’t the future; this is the present. Watching the City Liner navigate the old town automatically, even in challenging situations, was impressive. At the same time, it became clear that such solutions are only possible when regulatory frameworks actively support innovation. Switzerland shows how important regulatory openness and targeted pilot projects are to make progress tangible.
Both experts also emphasized the importance of international collaboration. Doris explained:
Only through cross-border cooperation can we tackle complex challenges like regulations, infrastructure, and human factors in a holistic way.
For SAAM Austria, this is key to advancing autonomous mobility, a perspective that Arbon makes especially tangible. According to the roadmap shared by TGA President Reto Stäheli, the SCCL project is currently moving through phased approvals and tests. After technical validation by ASTRA and BAV in spring 2025, passenger operations are planned to begin in late 2025, gradually moving toward full teleoperated driving by 2027–2028. In the long run, one operator could supervise multiple autonomous buses remotely, potentially reducing costs and expanding public transport coverage.
The day in Arbon showed us more than just an impressive piece of technology. It showed how autonomous mobility can be designed to feel natural, practical, and people-friendly.
A big thank you to TGA, Eurobus, and all the partners for hosting us and sharing their work, and of course to SAAM Austria for the great exchange.
The future of mobility doesn’t feel far away anymore. On that day, it felt like it was already here.
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