Suraaa (Smart Urban region Austria Alps Adriatic) has established itself as a pioneer in autonomous driving in Austria and is now setting international standards. As one of five finalists of the “4th Dubai World Challenge for Self-Driving Transport 2025”, the company is preparing to present its innovative mobility solutions on a global stage. “Participation in the Dubai World Challenge is an important milestone for us and shows that we are on the right track to develop forward -looking mobility solutions from Austria. We are pleased to measure us together with our partner ARTI to measure us from all over the world and present our innovative solutions to a broad public,” said Walter Prute, Managing Director of Suraa.
Achieved milestones from the autonomous shuttles in Klagenfurt
At the same time, Suraaa is taking an extremely positive balance for 2024. “We have achieved a lot so far, including two Austrian premieres! For the first time, a fleet company with autonomous shuttles and an autonomous on-demand operation in Austria have been successfully implemented. Our autonomous shuttles in Klagenfurt have been transported over 3,300 passengers and numerous international experts. reflect the commitment of our team and our partnerships (among others with Uniqa, 5G three, on demand Ioki) that continuously work to integrate technical innovations safely and efficiently into the regular public transport operation, ”explains Walter Prute to the 9 km long route (Austria’s longest test track), which connects the West station and the Lakeside Park station in Klagenfurt. The test track places high demands on the shuttles, which have to navigate through complex traffic conditions with five traffic light systems, a roundabout and motorway feeder. With a maximum legally permitted speed of 20 km/h and an average maximum speed of 18 km/h, the shuttles achieved an impressive degree of automation of around 97 % – an absolute top value.
Flexibility through on-demand mobility
The test operation of the autonomous shuttles took place in June 2024 without passengers, with a trained security companion, a so -called safety operator, was always on board to intervene in an emergency. This phase also included the furnishings and the learning of the vehicles on the route and on fixed as well as virtual stops in order to record the surroundings precisely and to optimize the interaction of the autonomous vehicles with other road users. The test drives, which took place until the end of September, provided valuable data for continuous improvement in the shuttles technology. In addition, citizens’ dialogues and workshops were previously carried out in order to actively take into account the concerns of the population. “It is a learning by doing – the integration of the population is particularly relevant,” said Walter Prute. The autonomous operation in Klagenfurt was offered according to the timetable and on-demand format. The on-demand service, which is available via a user-friendly IOKI app, enables flexible use of autonomous shuttles in Klagenfurt. Users can easily request trips, which means that the service is individually tailored to the needs of passengers.
The autonomous Busshuttle route in Pörtschach am Wörthersee, which is 2.7 kilometers long, has been operated daily since 2018 and is Austria’s pioneering company, which has promoted over 20,000 passengers and numerous international delegations since the pilot phase.
International attention for autonomous driving in Austria
In 2024, autonomous driving attracted international attention in Carinthia. Numerous visitors from the EU came to get to know the first autonomous fleet and the advantages of the innovative transport system, including the then EU Commissioner for Budget, Johannes Hahn. Delegations also found out about the advanced technologies and processes, which underlines the role as a pioneer in autonomous mobility in public transport.
Outlook for the future: new projects and developments
For 2025, Suraaa plans to further intensify his initiatives for developing and implementing autonomous vehicles. In addition to the Auto.Gigaapp lighthouse project that has already started, the remote operation for autonomous driving through 5G technology, the company will support the implementation of around 15 other projects related to autonomous driving in public transport. The aim is to actively work on legal and technical framework conditions in order to promote the acceptance of autonomous vehicles in society. In addition, an industry event on the subject of autonomous driving for 6-7. May 2025 planned to bring together experts and interested parties and to discuss the latest trends and developments. As part of this event, Suraa will also present the results of the leading EU mobility project Show, which was completed in the late 2024 and provides valuable knowledge about the practicality of automated vehicles. Over 69 project partners from 13 EU countries worked together on the mobility of the future.
“We are proud that our projects in the field of autonomous driving not only meet the needs of the population, but are also recognized internationally. The success of our test tracks and the innovative technologies we develop are clear evidence of the commitment and innovative strength of Suraaa,” said Walter Prute. “We are optimistic about the future and are determined to actively shape tomorrow’s mobility.” Preparations for driving in 2025 in Klagenfurt, planned from May, are in implementation.