Hong Kong's largest unmanned bus transportation system is expected to commence operation by the end of 2025, transporting passengers between the Hong Kong Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and 11 SKIES, a retail, dining, and entertainment landmark at SKYCITY.
Kwoon Chung Bus announced on Wednesday that its subsidiary, KC Smart Mobility, along with its partner Prime Motors Ltd, had been awarded the service contract by the Airport Authority Hong Kong.
The total length of the route is about 850 meters, with a journey time of less than 3 minutes. Each bus can carry a maximum of 16 passengers per trip.
Timothy Wong Cheuk-tim, chief operating officer of Kwoon Chung Bus, said that the unmanned bus transportation system will not only enhance convenience for passengers in the Guangdong-Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area, but will also serve as a pilot program for future mobility solutions in the region
The initial goal of the system is to achieve the capacity to transport approximately 500 passengers per hour for a one-way journey on each bus. In the medium to long term, the target is to increase this capacity to 2,000 passengers per hour.
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SKYCITY is a comprehensive business landmark near Hong Kong airport. Occupying 25 hectares of land, it offers visitors an eclectic selection of retail chains, dining, hotels, entertainment facilities, and meetings and exhibitions venue.
Timothy Wong Cheuk-tim, chief operating officer of Kwoon Chung Bus, said that the unmanned bus transportation system will not only enhance convenience for passengers in the Guangdong-Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area, but will also serve as a pilot program for future mobility solutions in the region.
Wong said that, with the new regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles in Hong Kong having come into effect in March, there are clearer guidelines for enterprises to run such businesses.
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The company hopes to establish an industry standard for unmanned driving. In the future, it will consider introducing more autonomous vehicles, such as tractor-trailers for use at airports, as well as sanitation vehicles and patrol vehicles. The company will also actively participate in the Hong Kong government's smart city projects.
Separately, Kwoon Chung Bus has also obtained a service contract for autonomous electric bus operations in the West Kowloon Cultural District. Two autonomous shuttles, with a capacity of 19 passengers each, will link the M+ museum and other stations in the cultural district. They are expected to commence operations in the fourth quarter of 2025.
The Airport Authority Hong Kong has been researching autonomous driving systems since 2018 and has previously introduced unmanned tractors and patrol vehicles. On May 12, 2023, it introduced autonomous electric buses to shuttle employees within the airport, marking the first time such self-driving buses have been implemented in the city.
