France is set to launch autonomous vehicle trials in Greater Paris by 2028, with plans to expand to 30 communes by 2030 under a new European initiative.
Autonomous vehicles in Greater Paris
The Metropolis of Greater Paris, along with Bolt and Stellantis, announced a plan to test autonomous vehicles in the region starting in 2028. The project, called The Greater Paris Autonomous Driving Living Lab, is supported by ADACities, a European Commission program that helps cities with such experiments.Roles of the project partners
The Metropolis of Greater Paris will set the framework and evaluate the project, while Bolt will handle the service and customer app. Stellantis will supply the vehicles, which are built on platforms designed for "level 4" autonomy, meaning they can operate without human oversight in specific areas.Project phases and goals
The first phase will test autonomous vehicles in up to five communes in the northwest of Greater Paris. The focus will be on safety, service quality, and integration with public transport. If successful, the service could expand to thirty communes by 2030, with the aim of commercial operation after obtaining necessary authorizations.Government support and new regulations
This announcement follows a meeting with France’s Minister of Transport and industry leaders. The government plans to issue a new homologation doctrine in 2027, outlining how vehicles will be authorized for road use. This includes step-by-step safety validation throughout a vehicle’s life.Other autonomous projects in France
Île-de-France Mobilités, the regional transport authority, will launch autonomous minibuses in 2028 in areas like Versailles Grand Parc and Paris-Saclay. Clichy is also testing an electric shuttle with G7 and Milla. France is also working with European countries to allow autonomous delivery robots on roads and sidewalks.Public readiness and future plans
A Harris Interactive study shows that nearly two-thirds of French people are ready to use fully automated public transport, though this includes shuttles and buses, not taxis. The government continues to explore how autonomous vehicles can be integrated into daily life and infrastructure.
