Autonomous vehicles are being trialled at the NEC in Solihull.
Visitors are being offered lifts on the self-driving shuttles during busy events.
The Solihull and Coventry Automated Links Evolution (SCALE) project aims to better understand how self-driving vehicles can help future transport systems.
The first phase of the route, linking bp pulse LIVE Arena to the VIP and blue badge parking area at the NEC site, is now operational.
By summer the fleet of three electric self-driving shuttles will extend its route to carry passengers from Birmingham International rail station to the NEC and Birmingham Business Park.
The project is being delivered by Solihull Council, University of Warwick, Coventry University, Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), the NEC, Coventry City Council and automated vehicle simulation specialists IPG and dRISK.
Councillor Andy Mackiewicz, Solihull cabinet member for climate Change and planning, said: “Connected Automated Mobility (CAM) technology has the potential to revolutionise the way we get around. We are excited to be leading the way, not just in Solihull, but regionally and across the country, in providing learning on CAM deployments in different settings and scenarios.”
The fully electric shuttles being used have been built by New Zealand-based autonomous vehicle manufacturer Ohmio.
The vehicles can carry up to 14 passengers, using a sophisticated suite of cameras and sensors to understand their surroundings, allowing them to interact with live traffic and move around safely.
In line with current legislation, the shuttles will have a human operator onboard, who will have the ability to take control if required. Each journey will also be tracked in real time from TfWM’s control centre on Summer Lane, Birmingham.
Funding for the multi-million-pound project has been provided by the Department for Transport’s Centre for Connected Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV).
