Germany, Feb 17: UE | STUDIOS has officially unveiled the Self-driving Urban E-Shuttle (SUE) – a fully autonomous, electric minibus designed to redefine the future of public transportation. Developed in collaboration with a consortium of ten partners, the People Mover represents a breakthrough in sustainable mobility, advanced materials, and human-centric design.
The autonomous vehicle will begin public road testing later this year at speeds of up to 50 km/h. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) and the European Union, reinforcing its strategic importance to the future of European mobility.
A Showcase for the Future of Mobility
“The People Mover is more than just a vehicle – it’s a showcase for the future of mobility,” said Jochen Hardt, Head of Global Marketing Mobility at Covestro. “It vividly demonstrates the ‘Material Effect,’ for example in the 381 cm panoramic windshield made of polycarbonate. We also integrated recycling considerations from the outset, working with fully recyclable monomaterials such as Arfinio®, TPU and Polycarbonate across both interior and exterior applications.”
Material Effects for the Major Trends in Mobility
The SUE People Mover integrates Covestro’s advanced material solutions to address key mobility megatrends — autonomy, sustainability, safety, and lightweight design:
- Panoramic Glazing: Makrolon® AG polycarbonate enables a 381 cm expansive windshield. The solution is available based on mass-balanced raw materials derived from post-consumer waste.
- Sensor Integration: Opaque yet sensor-transparent Makrolon® AX ST is used for multi-sensor system covers, enabling seamless and invisible integration of autonomous driving technology while ensuring resistance to vandalism and stone impacts.
- Interior Innovation: Arfinio®, a lightweight and fully recyclable monomaterial, is being used in a vehicle for the first time. It offers a premium stone-like aesthetic combined with durability against UV radiation, wear, and mechanical stress.
- Seat Upholstery: TPU-based Desmopan® AIR delivers high seating comfort, abrasion resistance, and easy cleaning—critical for continuous public transit operations.
Monomaterial Approach Enables Circularity
SUE adopts a consistent monomaterial strategy to simplify recycling at the end of the vehicle’s lifecycle. This approach ensures sustainability is embedded throughout the entire vehicle architecture — not only in its electric propulsion system but also in its material composition and structural design.
“With SUE, we pursued a user- and design-centered approach from the beginning,” said Alexander Uedelhoven, Founder and Project Manager of SUE and authorized signatory at UE | STUDIOS. “Our goal was to create not just a technologically advanced vehicle, but one that is optimally aligned with passenger needs in service, information, ergonomics, and aesthetics. Covestro’s materials and technical expertise gave us the flexibility to realize this vision without compromise.”
Strong Industry Collaboration
The project was realized in collaboration with leading institutions and mobility stakeholders, including:
- Institute for Automotive Engineering of the Lower Saxony Research Centre for Automotive Technology (NFF)
- TÜV Nord
- Fraunhofer Institute EMFT
- Deutsche Bahn (DB Regio)
As initiator, project manager, and vehicle manufacturer, UE | STUDIOS led the overall concept, development, design, and production of the SUE People Mover.
- With its blend of autonomous intelligence, sustainable materials, and passenger-centric design, the SUE People Mover positions itself as a forward-looking solution for next-generation urban mobility systems.