Vicinity Motor Corp. announced the first public deployment of a Vicinity Autonomous Lightning Electric Transit Bus in partnership with automated driving software platform provider ADASTEC at Michigan’s Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

The Sleeping Bear Dunes AV Project

Through a National Park Service Mobility Challenge Program grant, ADASTEC and Vicinity will deploy an automated, electric low-floor, accessible transit bus that will transport passengers along a 4.1-mile route on Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

The deployment aims to study how the next generation of automated bus technology performs in an outdoor recreational setting.

The vehicle will be available for public use and is free to riders with a seven-day, annual or lifetime NPS pass during its deployment period.

Vicinity and ASASTEC’s Partnership

The partnership brings together Vicinity’s expertise in medium-duty, accessible, fully electrified low-floor transit vehicles with ADASTEC's SAE Level-4 automated driving software platform, flowride.ai.

Vicinity automated transit buses are capable of responding in real-time to changing passenger demands, with capabilities such as flexible routing and dynamic scheduling.

This initial deployment aims to demonstrate how automated, electric transit buses can significantly enhance traffic safety and reduce congestion in areas with high visitation rates.