A brand-new autonomous bus has arrived in Malta, marking the start of a structured testing phase of at least six months. The vehicle will be tested on routes in Malta and Gozo as part of a pilot project led by Malta Public Transport, the Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure and Public Works, and the University of Malta under the metaCCAZE project. Co-funded by the European Union through the Horizon Europe programme, the pilot focuses on a passenger-oriented autonomous shuttle service and builds on lessons learned from pioneering cities such as Tampere and Limassol.
For many years, the University of Malta has conducted scientific studies on vehicle emissions, including hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and sulphur oxides. Since the 1950s and 1960s, regulatory agencies worldwide have studied vehicle emissions and their effects on human health and the environment. As understanding improved, so did the technologies used to reduce emissions. In the United States, amendments to the Clean Air Act introduced increasingly strict pollution limits.
Air pollution is estimated to cause between seven and eight million deaths worldwide each year. Numerous studies have identified particulate matter as one of the most dangerous pollutants. Malta faces particular challenges because of the large number of private vehicles using its narrow streets. This contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, fossil fuel consumption, traffic congestion and a shortage of parking spaces in many towns and villages.
Following its re-election, the Labour government has preferred not to burden commuters with parking charges in urban centres. However, the licensing authority continues to increase the number of registered vehicles, with a net average growth of 37 vehicles per day. The majority of newly-licensed vehicles, 4,737 or 59.8%, were passenger cars, followed by motorcycles, e-bikes and PA-bikes, which accounted for 1,989 or 25.1%.
Petrol-powered vehicles represented 58.1% of the total stock of licensed vehicles, followed by diesel-powered vehicles at 34.6%. Electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles accounted for only 4.3%. Compared with the first quarter of 2025, plug-in hybrid diesel-electric vehicles increased by 7.2%, electric vehicles by 6%, and mild hybrid petrol-electric vehicles by 5.1%.
Only a radical rethink of Malta’s transport system, moving away from heavy dependence on private vehicles, will reduce road deaths and allow transport to function more efficiently. However, with the country facing moderate national debt, efforts are being made to contain recurrent expenditure and reduce capital investment. The Opposition argues that this approach prioritises today’s comfort over tomorrow’s well-being.
During the second quarter of 2025, the stock of licensed vehicles increased by a further 3,339. Outdoor air pollution continues to result primarily from the burning of fossil fuels, including LNG used by the BWSC and Electrogas power plants, as well as diesel-powered generators and transport. Unless stricter measures are introduced to reduce internal combustion engine vehicles and replace them with electric alternatives, the problem will persist.
One possible solution lies in shared mobility. The concept of passenger transport based on shared vehicles rather than privately-owned cars originates from sustainable mobility research. Fewer vehicles on the road would reduce energy consumption and emissions, although the energy required to reposition empty vehicles must also be considered.
Robo-taxis offer a promising alternative, particularly if powered by electricity or hydrogen fuel cells. Once fully tested and deployed, they could reduce operating costs by eliminating the need for a human driver, making transport more affordable and increasing the popularity of transportation as a service. Studies indicate that robo-taxis have fewer accidents than human drivers and therefore have the potential to save lives. Unlike private cars, they can operate almost continuously, freeing urban space and improving quality of life.
The rise of robo-taxis raises important questions for Malta. What happens to the thousands of licensed “Y-plate” taxis if autonomous vehicles become widespread? One possible solution would be for Transport Malta to introduce a scheme allowing existing Y-plate vehicles to be retrofitted with sensors and autonomous technologies, supported through partial public funding.
Some may fear that taxi drivers and TCN operators are doomed. However, experience elsewhere suggests otherwise. In San Francisco, the rise of autonomous vehicles has increased overall demand for taxi services and created opportunities in specialised market segments. Official data shows that in 2024 employment in taxi and limousine services increased by 7% compared with the previous year, while total industry pay rose by 14%. Traditional taxi trips also remained broadly stable.
As more self-driving vehicles enter the market, they may expand rather than shrink the transportation sector. Europe has adopted a cautious approach, prioritising safety through extensive testing. While concerns about the impact on taxi drivers are understandable, these must be balanced against wider societal benefits. Evidence from San Francisco suggests that robo-taxis are replacing private car journeys rather than traditional taxi services.
This raises an important question for Malta. Could a pilot project in Gozo test whether autonomous shared mobility can reduce private car usage and village congestion? If successful, such a scheme could provide valuable evidence for a more sustainable, efficient and environmentally-friendly transport future.
