Leuven receives prestigious international award for autonomous shuttles
The city of Leuven has been awarded the prestigious ITS Hall of Fame Award for its pioneering role in the deployment of self-driving shuttles in public transport.
By Els Verhaeghe
••2 min read
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Generic image of a modern, sustainable building in a Flemish city with green elements and large windows, with urban infrastructure like tram tracks or bike lanes in the blurred background. Soft, natural daylight. Focus on innovation and urban planning.
The city of Leuven has received significant international recognition for its innovative mobility approach, specifically for the introduction of autonomous shuttles. The city won the ITS Hall of Fame Award in the Local Government Award category for the Europe/EMEA region.
This distinction celebrates Leuven's pioneering role in implementing self-driving shuttles in public transport. Since January 2026, two autonomous shuttles operated by De Lijn have been transporting passengers on line 16, between Leuven station and Heverlee. These shuttles operate fully autonomously on a route with multiple stops within the city center. The city aims to explore how autonomous vehicles can complement existing public transport and offer more options for people to travel without their own car.
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"This award is primarily a recognition of what we are achieving in Leuven together with De Lijn with the autonomous shuttles. We are particularly proud of that. At the same time, it shows what Leuven stands for: we are open to new technology and want to use it to make the city better. Not because technology in itself is the answer, but because it can offer new possibilities for a liveable, accessible, and sustainable city."
The autonomous shuttles are part of a broader mobility strategy in Leuven. The jury appreciates how the city integrates new technology into its mobility policy, alongside investments in high-quality cycling infrastructure, robust public transport, data-driven mobility, and smart traffic management. By coordinating various modes of transport, Leuven aims to provide residents with more options for smooth travel within the city.
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"This project heralds the public transport of the future in Flanders. Operating an autonomous public transport line in a busy student city is a top-tier mobility challenge. Thanks to the close collaboration between the city, at political and administrative levels, and De Lijn, we are making rapid and high-quality progress. I am therefore particularly pleased that Leuven's open-minded approach to mobility innovation is now receiving international recognition."
The award also aligns with Leuven's broader international reputation as an innovative city and a former European Capital of Innovation. The city collaborates with the wider Leuven knowledge region innovation ecosystem, including KU Leuven and imec. This recognition serves as an incentive to continue experimenting with technology that can make the city more liveable, sustainable, and accessible.
