Latvian operator is launching an autonomous mobility public transit

Latvian car-sharing company Carguru is partnering with an AI firm to launch small autonomous “roboshuttles” between Riga Airport and the Freedom Monument in the city centre. The electric vehicles, carrying up to three passengers, will operate along a 9.8 km route between the airport and the city centre, relying on cameras and AI rather than traditional HD maps for navigation.

Backed by Latvia’s Ministry of Economics, the project is designed to tackle several problems at once: fewer accidents, less congestion and emissions, and strengthening public transport capacity amid driver shortages. Officials say it also puts Latvia among the first European countries to test autonomous public transport on real city streets.

By 2027, passengers should be able to order a paid roboshuttle via a dedicated app, with services extending beyond the airport route to other destinations. This would make it the first commercial autonomous ride-hailing service in the Baltics. Until then, the project will focus on phased testing and scaling to demonstrate the technology’s ability to operate safely on Riga’s streets.

Author: Anna Vasilenka

Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not reflect those of the European Commission.