A self-driving bus made by Turkey's Karsan BIST:KARSN was struck from behind by a tram in Gothenburg, Sweden, on Monday, just an hour after it began carrying paying passengers, the public transport organiser said.
"The bus braked and was hit by the tram," said Patrik Chi, spokesperson at Vasttrafik, a company owned by the regional public transport authority.
The collision, which caused no injuries according to Chi, raises questions about integration of autonomous vehicles in urban traffic, just as Gothenburg has started a year-long trial of autonomous public transport using Karsan's e-ATAK bus.
Karsan did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Footage on public broadcaster SVT's website showed the damage to the bus, and a banner on its rear reading: "Keep distance! The bus may brake sharply."
Chi said the circumstances of the collision still needed to be investigated, adding there was "a safety driver on board the bus, who is ready to take control if needed."