Zhongtong N12 Autonomous Buses Launch in Jinan—Smart Driving Technology for Modern Transportation

Zhongtong N12 Autonomous Buses Begin Trial Operations in Jinan's First Intelligent Connected Bus Line

Recently, Jinan launched its first intelligent connected bus line for demonstration operations on open roads, and reservations are now open to the public. The Zhongtong N12 autonomous bus serves as the backbone of this intelligent bus line.

Following successful deployments in Beijing, Tianjin, Jiaxing, Suzhou, and Heze, Zhongtong has added another city to its intelligent driving network, further supporting Jinan’s “Double Smart” city development and advancing the integrated application of “vehicle-road-cloud” technologies for intelligent connected vehicles.

The Zhongtong N-series autonomous buses deployed in this operation feature a blue-and-white color scheme, complementing Jinan’s urban aesthetics. The interior, however, reveals even more advanced capabilities.
Powered by Zhongtong’s proprietary intelligent bus solutions, these vehicles achieve true “vehicle-road-cloud” integration. Equipped with core autonomous driving systems—including perception, decision-making, and control—the buses operate seamlessly in predefined high-precision map zones. They can recognize traffic signals and road markings, autonomously overtake, avoid obstacles, and make precise stops at designated stations.

The smart configuration allows the buses to “sense,” “think,” and “act” independently, completing various driving maneuvers without driver intervention.

Inside the bus, electronic screens display real-time information such as the vehicle’s location, distance to the next stop, high-precision maps, and traffic light signals. The buses are equipped with advanced perception and positioning systems, ensuring accurate recognition of stops and signal lights, enabling safe parking and intelligent transit.

The Zhongtong autonomous buses can also detect obstacles ahead and make intelligent decisions to change lanes or overtake based on traffic conditions. With laser radar and high-definition cameras, the buses automatically detect obstacles, recognize lanes, and safely navigate around barriers before leaving the station. At the end of operations, they are even capable of automatic parking.

To date, Zhongtong has launched four generations of autonomous buses, achieving L4-level autonomous driving. These buses have already been deployed for demonstration operations in cities like Beijing, Tianjin, Heze, and Jiaxing, accumulating over 3 million kilometers in test operations. Zhongtong continues to actively promote the development of smart transportation infrastructure.

Looking ahead, Zhongtong will focus on the evolving needs of smart transportation, further integrating big data, the Internet, and artificial intelligence. By advancing technological innovations and enhancing application capabilities, Zhongtong aims to support urban smart development and create a better future for intelligent transportation.