40 electric vehicles to be added to the bus fleet
Tests of an autonomous electric shuttle to start next month
Forty electric buses are being added to the bus fleet in a €14 million investment, Transport Minister Chris Bonett announced on Wednesday.
"This marks another significant step towards cleaner and more technologically advanced public transport," the minister said.
"The initiative forms part of a broader effort under the Malta in Motion plan, which is driving a comprehensive transformation in the mobility sector. This includes ongoing investment in public transport, upgraded infrastructure, innovative technologies and sustainable solutions designed to improve citizens’ daily travel experience while reducing environmental impact."
The minister said that from next Sunday, a number of new routes, route extensions and increased service frequencies on popular routes will come into effect, aimed at making public transport more accessible, efficient and convenient.
Malta Public Transport chairman Felipe Cosmen said the introduction of the new buses represents more than just an expansion of the fleet. “Today we are proud because what we are presenting is not simply the introduction of new buses, but another milestone in a long journey of modernising public transport in Malta and improving the daily lives of those who depend on it,” he said.
He noted that since his group took over responsibility for Malta’s public transport service in 2015, its goal has been to invest, modernise and continuously improve. “From the outset, we understood that public transport is not just a service, but part of the country’s daily rhythm and a key contributor to social, economic and environmental wellbeing,” he added.
He said tests of an autonomous bus will begin next month on carefully selected and pre-approved routes. The vehicle, which can carry up to 15 passengers, will initially operate under controlled trial conditions before any potential public use.
A trained safety operator will be on board at all times during testing, with the ability to take control immediately if necessary. The trials are being conducted under a newly established regulatory and safety framework issued by Transport Malta, with continuous monitoring and data collection to evaluate system performance.
Similar projects are already underway in nine other European cities, including Tampere in Finland and Amsterdam in the Netherlands.