Teleoperated Shuttles Begin Real-World Testing: Rheinmetall and MIRA Launch Pilot of Future Mobility Pilot together with Rheinbahn and Düsseldorf Airport on Public Roads

The area surrounding Düsseldorf Airport provides an ideal environment for testing innovative mobility solutions. With its high traffic density, diverse mobility requirements, and seamless interaction between a wide range of transportation modes – from e-scooters to the world’s largest passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380 – it offers a uniquely demanding real-world operating environment.

The shuttle vehicles will operate between the airport railway station and the terminal area. The pilot is designed to evaluate teleoperated mobility services under everyday operating conditions and gather valuable experience for their potential future deployment. Key areas of focus include the operational performance of teleoperation in real traffic, integration into existing transportation networks, operational safety, system reliability, and acceptance among passengers and professional drivers.

Teleoperation has the potential to serve as an important stepping stone toward increasingly automated mobility services in the future.

The insights gained during the pilot will help assess the potential of teleoperated vehicles for future public transportation applications as well as internal operational use cases, such as vehicle movements within transit depots.

"Through this pilot, we will gain valuable insights into the role tele¬operated vehicles can play in the future of public transportation. Real-world operation under everyday conditions is essential to understanding the technology’s true potential. At the same time, we know that technological transformation only succeeds when people are part of the journey. That’s why we want to explore this technology together with our drivers, gain hands-on experience, and build confidence through direct involvement," said Annette Grabbe, Member of the Executive Board of Rheinbahn.

"Teleoperation has the potential to help public transportation providers maintain reliable service despite growing driver shortages while enabling new mobility services in an economically sustainable way. The Düsseldorf Airport pilot is an important milestone in validating the technology under real operating conditions and demonstrating its practical value for public transit," said Win Neidlinger, Managing Director of MIRA GmbH.

"We are excited to help shape the future of mobility by enabling the testing of innovative transportation concepts at Düsseldorf Airport. Through our SkyTrain, we already have many years of experience operating fully automated public transportation systems. This pilot represents the next step as we evaluate how teleoperated ground vehicles can further improve operational efficiency. Looking ahead, we see potential not only for enhancing passenger transportation to and from the airport, but also for integrating teleoperated systems into logistical and operational processes on the airport apron," said Lars Redeligx, Chief Executive Officer of Düsseldorf Airport.

The shuttle vehicles are remotely operated from a control center located at the EUREF Campus Düsseldorf. Throughout the pilot, a trained safety operator remains on board each vehicle and can assume control at any time if necessary. The safety of all road users is the project’s highest priority.

Experience Teleoperation First-Hand

Members of the public are invited to ride the teleoperated shuttle free of charge throughout the pilot and experience the technology firsthand. The shuttle operates between Düsseldorf Airport Railway Station and the airport terminals, with designated stops at:

• Airport Railway Station (EUREF Campus)
• Mündelheimer Weg
• Lichtenbroich Quartier
• Airport – Hall 7
• Airport Terminal B/C

The pilot runs from July 13 through August 28, 2026. Shuttle service is available Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., with departures approximately every 30 to 40 minutes.

Visitors interested in learning more about the technology are also invited to visit the control center at the EUREF Campus Düsseldorf during operating hours in July, where they can observe live teleoperation in action.

Research Project Supporting the Future of Public Transportation

The pilot is part of the PoQuaSIA research project, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy as part of the European 8ra Initiative. The project’s objective is to develop a secure, high-performance digital infrastructure for safety-critical applications such as vehicle teleoperation.

Together, the project partners are evaluating how teleoperated vehicles can help strengthen and advance future public transportation services.

About Rheinbahn

Founded on March 25, 1896, as Rheinische Bahngesellschaft AG, Rheinbahn has played a central role in shaping mobility in Düsseldorf and the surrounding region for more than 130 years. Today, the company connects people, communities, and destinations across Düsseldorf, the District of Mettmann, the Rhine District of Neuss, and six additional municipalities.

Every day, more than 580,000 passengers rely on Rheinbahn’s extensive public trans-portation network. With more than 3,700 employees representing over 60 nationalities, including 143 apprentices, Rheinbahn is one of the region’s largest employers. Its fleet of more than 320 light rail and streetcars and approximately 475 buses serves 138 routes across an area of roughly 570 square kilometers, stopping at more than 1,700 stations while providing safe, reliable, and sustainable mobility every day.

About MIRA

The Düsseldorf Airport pilot, conducted together with Rheinbahn and Düsseldorf Airport, reflects MIRA’s mission: making highly automated mobility available today through safe, practical, and scalable teleoperation.

As a Rheinmetall company, MIRA develops teleoperation technologies that enable vehicles to be operated remotely with precision, safety, and efficiency—both on public roads and in industrial environments.

For more than four years, MIRA has safely and reliably operated teleoperated vehicles on public roads, gaining valuable operational experience under real-world conditions. During this time, the technology has been continuously refined with a strong focus on safety, system availability, cybersecurity, and user experience, while proving its capabilities across a wide range of real-world applications.

About Düsseldorf Airport

As the largest airport in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Düsseldorf Airport plays a vital role in meeting the mobility needs of both citizens and businesses throughout the region, as well as neighboring areas of the Netherlands and Belgium.

In 2025, the airport welcomed more than 21 million passengers, with over 60 airlines offering flights to more than 160 destinations worldwide during the summer schedule.

Guided by its vision of becoming the "Destination of Excellence," Düsseldorf Airport plans to invest approximately €1 billion over the next two decades to support the sustainable transformation of aviation while strengthening the region as an attractive place to live and do business. As Düsseldorf’s largest employment site, the airport already supports approximately 20,000 jobs. Sustainability remains a key priority, with the goal of achieving net-zero CO₂ operations by 2035.

About EUREF Campus Düsseldorf

EUREF Campus Düsseldorf is one of Germany’s leading innovation hubs for the energy transition and future mobility. The campus offers approximately 70,000 square meters of office and innovation space and is home to more than 50 companies employing around 4,000 people.

Businesses and research institutions based at the campus develop, test, and showcase innovations in energy, climate technologies, environmental protection, and mobility within a real-world innovation environment. The campus is heated and cooled in a carbon-neutral manner using water from the neighboring Lichtenbroich quarry lake and is directly connected to Düsseldorf Airport’s long-distance railway station.