Taipei: Taipei plans to begin trials of autonomous buses on 15 dedicated bus lanes in the second half of 2027 following initial testing in designated enclosed areas, Mayor Chiang Wan-an said Monday. Speaking to reporters at a Taipei event, Chiang outlined the city's autonomous bus initiative which will be implemented in three phases.

According to Focus Taiwan, the first phase, scheduled for later this year, will involve trials of autonomous shuttle services in enclosed areas such as Taipei Zoo. In the first half of next year, the city will launch an AI-powered autonomous vehicle demonstration zone at Beitou-Shilin Technology Park, initially deploying unmanned cleaning and watering vehicles before introducing passenger shuttle services.

The third phase, set for the second half of next year, will involve pilot operations of autonomous buses on 15 dedicated bus lanes across Taipei following upgrades to road infrastructure, traffic signals, and sensor systems. As Taipei will host the 2029 Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) World Congress, the city aims to become a key demonstration base for autonomous vehicle development.

However, details on the suppliers of the autonomous vehicles for the planned trials were not provided. Separately, Chiang mentioned the advancement of broader AI initiatives, including a government-developed AI agent called "CiviClaw" and efforts to equip city agencies and civil servants with AI tools to improve administrative efficiency.

When questioned about his potential candidacy in Taiwan's 2028 presidential election, Chiang stated that his focus remains on city governance and seeking reelection as Taipei mayor.