Vicinity Motor Corp. Announces First Public Deployment of its Automated Transit Bus at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Vicinity Motor Corp., a North American supplier of commercial electric vehicles, announced the first public deployment of a Vicinity Autonomous Lightning Electric Transit Bus. The initiative, in partnership with ADASTEC and supported by federal funding, will begin on August 14, 2024, at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan.

The bus will operate along a 4.1-mile route on Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, aiming to study the performance of next-generation automated bus technology in outdoor recreational settings. Passengers can use the service for free with a 7-day, annual, or lifetime National Park Service pass.

This deployment combines Vicinity's expertise in medium-duty, fully electric, low-floor transit vehicles with ADASTEC's SAE Level-4 automated driving software, flowride.ai. The project aims to demonstrate the benefits of automated, electric transit buses, including improved traffic safety and reduced congestion.

Brent Phillips, President of Vicinity Motor Corp., emphasized the significance of this deployment, while Dr. Ali Peker, CEO of ADASTEC, highlighted the project's potential to improve public transportation's safety, efficiency, and sustainability. Vicinity Motor Corp. and ADASTEC are committed to pioneering the future of transportation through advanced, automated solutions.