Istanbul rolls out city’s first self-driving electric vehicle

ISTANBUL – Anadolu Agency

Istanbul residents will soon enjoy the city’s first self-driving electric vehicle, built by its public transport authority.

The Istanbul Electric Tram and Tunnel Company (IETT) introduced its innovative shuttle at the World Cities Congress on April 17, the first of the three-day event.

The shuttle will initially run at airports and on roads closed to traffic.

Science, Industry, and Technology Minister Faruk Özlu and Former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero were shown the shuttle, before it began plying the streets.

Istanbul Mayor Mevlüt Uysal said the design of the vehicle drew inspiration from the city’s iconic tramways.

“When we talk about electric vehicles, people only think of private cars. [But] public transport should also have an important place in the field of electric vehicles,” Uysal said.