Demand-responsive buses in MV: Increasingly popular and increasingly expensive - Rural Germany embraces autonomous buses as ridership soars tenfold in a year

On-demand bus services, such as those offered by Flixbus and autonomous shuttles, are witnessing a sharp rise in popularity across rural Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Passenger numbers for these flexible transport options jumped from 41,311 to 86,473 in Northwest Mecklenburg alone between 2024 and 2025. The trend reflects growing reliance on autonomous transport in areas poorly served by traditional buses and trains, with the 'VVR-Surfer' system in Vorpommern-Rügen leading to a tenfold increase in ridership. State funding for these services grew from €13 million in 2023 to over €14.1 million in 2025, but costs are outpacing subsidies, creating challenges in meeting the autonomy meaning and demand for these services. Local transport expert Stefan Lösel predicts that autonomous shuttles could help meet future needs, though details on testing locations and vehicle numbers remain unclear. The rapid growth of on-demand buses shows rural residents increasingly depend on autonomous transport, with passenger figures in Rostock rising from 27,531 in 2024 to 63,953 in 2025. The state government's goal is a statewide, hourly autonomous network that reaches even remote areas, with around 370,000 people using the services in 2025, more than double the previous year's total.