Daejeon's New 3-Car Articulated Bus: A Game Changer for Urban Transport in 2026?

The new three-section articulated transit vehicle began test runs on March 31 as Daejeon prepares to introduce the country's first unit.

According to Daejeon Transit Corporation, the vehicle is a high-capacity model that can carry roughly 230 passengers. It employs an independent steering system to reduce its turning radius, allowing smoother operation on urban streets.

Officials are positioning it as a next-generation alternative to conventional buses to improve transport efficiency and help ease traffic congestion.

The test vehicle is the first of three units scheduled for delivery. Rather than arriving as a finished vehicle, it was shipped to Daejeon on March 21 in separated modules. Teams assembled it in the Konyang University Hospital parking lot before putting it into service on public roads.

The transit authority plans to complete assembly and run a three-month trial from April through June. The test route covers a 3.9㎞ (about 2.4 miles) section from Doanjungne Intersection to near Yongbanne Intersection. To minimize disruption, trials will avoid weekday peak commuting hours.

During the runs, crews will focus on key on-road performance areas such as cornering behavior, braking safety, and acceleration and deceleration stability. Any improvements identified during testing will be incorporated into the two vehicles still slated for delivery.

The authority aims to finalize changes to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's special trial approval and complete environmental certification procedures in the first half of the year, and to apply to launch a pilot project in the second half.

Lee Gwang-chuk, president of Daejeon Transit Corporation, said, \"This test run is a critical opportunity to evaluate the new vehicle on actual roads. We will prepare thoroughly so residents can use it safely and conveniently.\"