Future of rural public transport: NeMo.bil makes individualized public transport a reality
August 28, 2025
Future of rural public transport: NeMo.bil makes individualized public transport a reality
NeMo.Cabs
The first automated demonstration drives of the INYO cab took place in a non-public area of Paderborn/Lippstadt Airport. Members of NeMo e.V., those involved in the NeMo.mobil project, and other participants from the nationwide German network attended the event.
First successful automated demonstration drives conducted at Paderborn/Lippstadt Airport
Transition from development to testing phase of the swarm-based mobility system
DLR Institute for AI Safety develops trustworthy data spaces for secure networking
Functional prototype for passenger and freight transport planned by June 2026
An important milestone for tomorrow's mobility has been reached: The NeMo.bil project has successfully conducted its first automated demonstration drives at Paderborn/Lippstadt Airport. Following the initial manual test drives in April 2025, this step marks the transition from the development to the testing phase of the innovative, swarm-based mobility system.
Individualized public transport for rural areas The project, funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy with 18 million euros, is on schedule and brings the vision of individualized public transport within reach. Rural areas in particular could benefit from this innovation. The innovative concept involves small, electrically powered cabs picking up people directly from their doorstep and forming energy-efficient convoys on longer routes, pulled by larger pro-vehicles. The next steps include drives with safety drivers in public spaces. In parallel, the 19 project partners are working intensively on building the pro-vehicle and the digital ecosystem. A functional prototype for passenger and freight transport is scheduled to be demonstrated by June 30, 2026.
DLR Institute for AI Safety and Security : Trustworthy data spaces for secure mobility The DLR Institute for AI Safety and Security plays a central role in this future project, ensuring the connectivity of digital solutions to comprehensive data and service ecosystems in the mobility sector. The institute's tasks include the conception of trustworthy data spaces, their secure networking, and the integration of privacy-enhancing technologies. Drawing on expertise from the flagship projects Catena-X and Gaia-X 4 Future Mobility, the institute is paving the way for scaling the system. This experience flows directly into the development of secure and trustworthy infrastructures for NeMo.bil.
Digitalization and AI for sustainable mobility NeMo.bil impressively demonstrates how digitalization and AI technologies can rethink public transport: resource-efficient, demand-oriented, and with the potential to intelligently connect urban and rural areas. The project exemplifies the transformation of the mobility sector through innovative technologies and well-conceived security concepts.
