German Auto Supplier Seeks Approval for Buses Without Steering Wheels on US Roads

A subsidiary of a German auto supplier has asked U.S. auto safety regulators to approve the deployment annually of up to 2,500 autonomous electric buses without steering wheels and other human controls, a U.S. agency said Thursday.

HOLON, a unit of German automotive supplier Benteler Group, asked the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for an exemption from federal auto safety standards for its automated electric bus that does not have pedals, manual turn signals or mirrors needed by a human driver. HOLON said the vehicle’s autonomous driving system was collaboratively developed by HOLON and Mobileye.

NHTSA said it will accept public comments on the petition until early January.

(Reporting by Shepardson; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)