The German Ministry of Transportation and Digital Infrastructure have set long-term objectives to transform Germany into a driver of digitalisation in Europe and beyond, creating a mobile society that is more efficient and more eco-friendly. The short-term objective is to bring highly automated cars on the roads by 2020, in particular in two major areas:
- Automated driving in structured, less complex traffic environments (Autobahn)
- Automated driving in low speed areas (car park)
Connected and automated vehicles will make driving even more safe, comfortable and efficient. For this reason, the German automotive industry is consistently progressing the digital evolution in and around the automobile.
In an Innovation Charter, all stakeholders declare their willingness to jointly set up and operate the Digital Motorway Test Bed on the A9 motorway in Bavaria. On this route, Mobility 4.0 innovations will be tested, evaluated and developed further.
The Federal Ministry for Transport and Digital Infrastructure, the Free State of Bavaria, the automobile industry and the IT industry jointly operate the Digital Motorway Test Bed on the A9 motorway in Bavaria. On this route, Mobility 4.0 innovations are tested, evaluated and further developed.The infrastructure of the route is fully digitalized, equipped with sensor technology and connected to innovative projects along the A9 motorway. The Digital Motorway Test Bed is a technology neutral offer to industry and the research community and can be used by all stakeholders from the automotive industry, the digital economy and academia from home and abroad who are interested in testing their innovations.
The key aspects regarding the legal framework:
- Road traffic regulation
- Liability
- Product safety
- IT-Security and Privacy
Germany will run a dedicated digital testing area on the Autobahn in Bavaria between Munich and Ingolstadt, where innovations can be tested, evaluated and developed. The emphasis will be on highly and fully automated driving, Car2Car and Car2Infrastructure communication, with the most modern sensor technologies, high-precision digital maps and real-time communication.