Self-driving bus from the future ready for real-world testing

Muji, a Japanese retail company known for minimalism in design, emphasis on recycling, avoidance of waste in production and packaging, and a no-logo or no-brand approach to retail products has announced the Gacha, an all-weather mini bus designed to shuttle people around city streets.

Curbed reports that the buses are ready to make their real world debut, which will occur in Finland.  

A test program will be launched in the Finnish city of Espoo, with other Finnish cities slated to roll out later this year.

Developed with the Finnish technology company Sensible 4, the Gacha looks like a futuristic public transport solution. Muji's minimalist DNA is apparent in the clean, streamlined interiors and large windows. 

Gacha stretches 30 ft long with room for 16 passengers. An LED strip wraps around the front and back like a ribbon and serves as the headlights and an announcement ticker.

With a maximum speed of 25 mph, the slow moving Gacha is equipped with sensors, cameras and GPS software that will be put to the real-world test soon.

The publication reports that Muji says the bus can operate on a fixed, predetermined path, “just like an invisible railway,” and also respond to user requests and choose an optimized route. 

Muji aims to fully integrate Gacha into the transportation fleets of cities by 2021.