Self-driving shuttle takes off - Birmingham International rail station, Airport link, NEC, and Business Park on route

A new self-driving shuttle service is now operating at the NEC in Solihull as part of an ambitious autonomous vehicle trial.

The Solihull & Coventry Automated Links Evolution (SCALE) project is rolling out a 7km route in phases, connecting Birmingham International rail station, the NEC, and Birmingham Business Park.

The first phase, launched during an international trade visit, currently links bp pulse LIVE Arena to the VIP & blue badge parking area. Public trials are underway, with services operating on select dates through April and May.

Led by Solihull Council, in collaboration with WMG at the University of Warwick, Coventry University, Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), and other partners, the project aims to explore the commercial viability of self-driving transport.

The electric shuttles, built by New Zealand-based Ohmio, carry up to 14 passengers and use advanced sensors to navigate safely, though a human operator remains onboard for oversight.

The full route is expected to be operational by summer 2025. The initiative is backed by funding from the Department for Transport’s Centre for Connected Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV).

For trial dates and more details, visit: Solihull Council’s website.

Take a ride

The first phase of the route, linking bp pulse LIVE Arena to the VIP & blue badge parking area is now in operation.

SCALE will be operating between 10am and 3pm on the following dates:

• Wednesday 2 April
• Friday 4 April
• Monday 7 April
• Wednesday 9 April
• Thursday 10 April
• Monday 14 April
• Wednesday 16 April
• Wednesday 23 April
• Thursday 24 April
• Friday 25 April
• Monday 28 April
• Wednesday 30 April
• Thursday 1 May

The route will be extended in further sections to link passengers from Birmingham International rail station to the NEC and Birmingham Business Park by the Summer.

Additional dates will be added in due course.