Volvo Buses and Nanyang Technological University in Singapore have signed a cooperation agreement on a research and development program for autonomous electric 12-metre buses. The program is part of the Land Transport Authority of Singapore's drive to create new solutions for tomorrow's sustainable public transport. The Volvo Group has been conducting research into autonomous transport solutions for several years. The company has demonstrated concept vehicles for applications in confined areas like mines, quarries and for transport of newly harvested sugar-cane in Brazil. One more step towards the future was taken last year with an autonomous concept truck for hub-to-hub transportations in semi-confined areas like harbours and dedicated lanes on highways. The basis of the program consists of two all-electric 12-metre Volvo 7900 Electric buses, of the same type that Volvo Buses already delivers today. Volvo and NTU will build the autonomous driving solution on Volvo's platform. One of the autonomous electric buses in the program will be used on Singapore's advanced new test facility for autonomous vehicles and the second bus will be used for tests in the bus depot. The cooperative program between LTA, Volvo Buses and NTU is underway and will initially last for two years. The jointly developed autonomous electric buses will arrive into Singapore in the beginning of 2019.