MILA.mobility Project Enters Joint Development Phase

MILA.mobility Moves Into Joint Development

P3 digital services GmbH announced on September 21 that it is participating in the MILA.mobility project, which has now entered its joint development phase. The MILA.mobility project, short for “Middleware Integration of Control Center and Dispatch Systems for Autonomous Mobility,” is focused on developing an open, manufacturer-neutral platform for public transport. The platform is intended to connect autonomous vehicles with existing control center, dispatch, booking, and infrastructure systems, creating a common technical basis for integrating autonomous mobility into established public transport operations.

Thirty Partners Are Collaborating on the Platform

The MILA.mobility initiative brings together 30 partners from transport companies, industry, academia, and associations. Their collaboration is centered on developing and testing the components and interfaces required for communication between autonomous vehicles and existing public transport systems. The project is designed to address the diverse technical and operational requirements associated with autonomous mobility in public transportation. By involving participants from multiple areas of the transport ecosystem, the project is structured to examine how different systems can work together through an open platform rather than relying on a manufacturer-specific approach.

Testing Begins in a Virtual Laboratory

The project will initially test its components and interfaces in a virtual laboratory before moving into real-world development activities. Following the virtual testing phase, the results will be further developed step by step across five test areas under real-world conditions. These test areas are intended to reflect the varied requirements of public transport and provide practical environments for evaluating the developed systems. This staged approach allows the project partners to examine technical components and interfaces before applying the resulting solutions in operationally relevant test environments.

Project Receives EUR 33.8 Million in Funding

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research is providing EUR 33.8 million in funding for the project, while the total project volume is around EUR 57 million. The project is scheduled to run for 44 months and is set to conclude on March 31, 2030. For P3 digital services GmbH, participation places the company within a large collaborative effort involving transport, industrial, academic, and association partners. The funding and multi-year timeline provide the project with a defined framework for developing, testing, and advancing its manufacturer-neutral integration approach.

Real-World Testing Will Shape Further Development

The progression from virtual laboratory testing to five real-world test areas gives P3 digital services GmbH and the other partners a structured path for evaluating the platform under different public transport requirements. The development process is intended to use findings from initial testing to refine components and interfaces progressively. Because the platform is designed to connect autonomous vehicles with existing control center, dispatch, booking, and infrastructure systems, the project’s work focuses on interoperability as a central requirement for integrating autonomous mobility into public transport environments.

Industry Impact & Outlook

MILA.mobility could provide a structured basis for addressing interoperability between autonomous vehicles and the established systems used by public transport operators. Its manufacturer-neutral approach and planned progression from virtual testing to five real-world test areas are particularly relevant to organizations evaluating how autonomous mobility can interact with existing operational infrastructure. The 44-month development period gives the partners time to refine the platform through staged testing, while the EUR 33.8 million in BMBF funding supports the project’s broader development framework. The next steps will center on testing components and interfaces and progressively applying the results in real-world conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the MILA.mobility project?
MILA.mobility is a project developing an open, manufacturer-neutral platform designed to connect autonomous vehicles with existing public transport control center, dispatch, booking, and infrastructure systems. The project involves 30 partners from transport companies, industry, academia, and associations. Its development begins with component and interface testing in a virtual laboratory before moving into five real-world test areas. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research with EUR 33.8 million and has a total volume of around EUR 57 million, with completion scheduled for March 31, 2030.