Ride the Future is a regional development project in collaboration between Akademiska Hus, Linköping Municipality, Linköping University, RISE, Transdev Sweden, VTI, and Östgötatrafiken. The purpose is to find out how electrified and automated shuttles can complement existing public transportation and thereby increase public transit’s competitiveness vis-à-vis the privately owned car and make it easier for more people to travel by public transportation. The project started in 2019 and has over the years transported more than 30,000 passengers and served as a platform for more than 30 different research projects. Notable among all the passengers is King Carl XVI Gustaf, who took a ride in connection with Linköping University’s 50th anniversary in 2025.
Pause during 2026 – new vehicles on the way
In 2026, the traffic is on a pause as the vehicles that have been in use since the start are set to be replaced. Two new self-driving buses will be delivered in 2027 from the Turkish vehicle manufacturer Karsan Automotive and the software provider ADASTEC Corp.
”The new vehicles will be able to operate both with and without a driver and will feature new technology to determine their location and destination. Lidar scanners will be complemented by cameras, which will make the ride smoother than with our previous buses,” says Anna Anund, Head of Research at VTI.
The project receives support from Tillväxtverket
At the end of 2025, the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth (Tillväxtverket) granted Ride the Future SEK 8.8 million in support from the European Regional Development Fund. This means that funding for the coming four years is secured, which in turn opens up great opportunities for more and new research projects. Ride the Future serves as an open research platform and testbed where research in a variety of fields can be conducted.
