The Greater Cambridge Partnership has marked a significant milestone in its innovative transport programme with the arrival of the first autonomous vehicle for its Connector project, set to launch later this year.

The purpose-built electric bus, manufactured by UK-based Alexander Dennis, will undergo extensive track testing to ensure safety and performance before deployment.

The vehicle features Fusion Processing's CAVStar® automated drive system and has been described as a major step forward in autonomous public transport technology.

Cllr Elisa Meschini, chair of the Greater Cambridge Partnership's executive board, said: "Connector will see autonomous vehicles being trialled on our city's roads to investigate their potential to transform the way people travel.

“This is a significant opportunity for Cambridge to lead the way in innovation, paving the way for more sustainable and efficient ways to get to where people need to go."

The project, backed by Innovate UK and supported by the UK Government's Centre for Connected & Autonomous Vehicles, brings together a consortium of partners including Alexander Dennis, Fusion Processing, IPG Automotive, dRISK and Gamma Energy.

Jamie Wilson, head of concepts and advanced engineering for Alexander Dennis, added: "The completion of the first Enviro100AEV is a great milestone for the Connector project as we now enter a phase of vehicle testing to ready the technology for public services."

Following track testing and safety driver training, the autonomous bus service will commence operations at Cambridge Biomedical Campus, a site that combines biomedical research, patient care and education facilities.

The vehicles will be owned by Mistral Group and leased to the Greater Cambridge Partnership under an innovative funding model, demonstrating a new approach to implementing autonomous transport solutions in urban environments.