Zurich Airport has launched a pilot program featuring two fully autonomous electric shuttles. These vehicles operate without drivers or security staff on board, relying instead on remote monitoring from a control center. The project marks one of the first instances of Level 4 automated driving testing at a European airport.
The airport began collaborating with the Chinese technology firm WeRide in March 2025 to prepare for the deployment. The shuttles currently transport employees along a specific route that avoids crossing aircraft taxiways. The pilot project is scheduled to run until the end of 2026, with potential for future extension.
Operations are overseen by personnel from partner companies Swissport and Krummen Kerzers. Former safety drivers have been retrained to manage the vehicles from a remote cockpit, allowing a single employee to monitor multiple buses simultaneously. This shift is intended to address labor shortages and improve operational efficiency.
The initiative required meeting strict regulatory, safety, and technical standards to achieve Level 4 automation. Flughafen Zürich AG plans to use the data and experience gathered during this trial to inform the potential integration of additional autonomous vehicles across the airport grounds in the coming years.
