The popular self-driving shuttles at the Terhills tourist site in Dilsen-Stokkem and Maasmechelen will disappear from May 26th. The reason? The French technology supplier Easymile, responsible for vehicle production, maintenance, and safety, is stopping its shuttle projects for financial reasons. The ‘Limburgse Reconversie Maatschappij’ (LRM) and its partners, responsible for operating the shuttles, will investigate whether the self-driving cars can be safely reactivated.
The project, which was launched in 2022, was Belgium’s first fully self-driving transport system. Five self-driving shuttles transported tourists and guests to the various hotspots. It was the first and, so far, only fully autonomous transport system in Europe, i.e., without a safety steward on board.
The shuttles could accommodate 12 passengers each and were also accessible for wheelchair users. The vehicles covered a 4.5-kilometer route on the 356-hectare site, transporting up to 30,000 monthly passengers. As of the end of May, visitors can temporarily use manned electric shuttle buses from Elaisa Energetic Wellness.
The project was a success despite the shutdown, according to the Limburg investment company LRM. “The shuttles have put Flanders on the map as a pioneer in autonomous transport and led to the establishment of a Flemish Taskforce on Autonomous Transport. We hope to build on what we have learned here.”
