Yes, you read that right—Trikala has done it again. A driverless vehicle is now making regular trips through this central Greek city, proving once more that Trikala is light-years ahead of other major cities like Athens and Thessaloniki, where debates often outpace progress.
This innovative leap is part of the SHOW program—short for SHared automation Operating models for Worldwide adoption—which aims to promote globally usable, automated, and shared transportation systems. The initiative is being implemented by the Municipality of Trikala and e-Trikala S.A., in partnership with SuburVan, ICCS (Institute of Communication and Computer Systems) at the National Technical University of Athens, CERTH (Centre for Research and Technology Hellas), and the University of Genoa (UNIGE).
A Glimpse into the Future of Urban Mobility
Engineer Loukas Vavitsas, speaking on Action 24, explained:
“This is a fully autonomous vehicle—it requires no driver at all. It’s the product of one of the largest European projects of the past 3 to 4 years, called SHOW. Several European cities participated in developing similar vehicles, and Trikala is proudly one of them.”
Is It Safe?
When asked about the safety of a driverless car, Vavitsas clarified:
“This isn't our first time experimenting with such technology in Trikala. It’s actually the second pilot in the past 8 years. All systems installed in the vehicle prioritize safety above all else. The community of Trikala, as well as visiting passengers, have embraced it with enthusiasm and trust.”
He further highlighted that one of the core motivations for developing autonomous vehicles is to reduce accidents caused by human error, which remain a significant issue in public transportation across Europe.
“According to regulations, the vehicle’s maximum speed is 30 km/h, ensuring an extra layer of safety.”
The Route and Operation
The driverless van follows a predefined route starting from Trikala’s railway station and ending at the local university. The main passengers include students and municipal employees.
Key Features of the Autonomous Vehicle:
Powered by 5G technology
Equipped with an advanced electronic control system that processes:
Data from its own sensors
Traffic signals
Greek traffic code (ΚΟΚ)
And communicates with a central control center
On-demand operation via the SuburVan app, available for free download
The route now stretches 9 km, doubled from the original 4.5 km
Serving areas like the Railway Station, Pili Street, Flamouli Street, and the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science (TEFAA)
Fully electric vehicles, contributing to environmental sustainability
Functions as a complement to existing public transport
Tested and now operating under real urban conditions—yes, even with Greece’s famously chaotic traffic!
Over the past few months, the system has undergone extensive testing and data analysis, ensuring it meets all technical and safety requirements before being launched to the public.
