A driverless bus will go on trial in WA later this year, in a first for the country.

The self-driving electric vehicle, developed by French company Navya, carries 15 passengers at speeds of up to 45kmh.

It is designed to complement current public transport, covering trips that are “too long to walk but too short to drive”.

RAC-WA is leading the trial. “By giving Western Australians the chance to see the technology, to eventually use it and experience it, we are learning more about the technology and working towards WA being ready for driverless vehicles,” CEO Terry Agnew said.

He says the tests will show governments and industry the potential of driverless vehicles, and help develop plans for a safe transition to the technology.

“Increasing levels of automation in vehicles are an inevitable part of the future, and the notion of them being on our roads is not a question of if, but when.”

Autonomous features such as radar cruise control and lane-detection systems already exist in many vehicles, while vehicle manufacturers have indicated self-driving cars will hit the market next year.

The Navya bus has multi-sensor technology with 3D perception, allowing it to map the environment, detect obstacles and interpret traffic signs.

Details of the trial will be announced in the coming months, with RAC-WA currently working through approval processes with the State Government.

Last November SA hosted Australia’s first trials of driverless vehicles.