Funding Strategy "5x20x2025": Real-world Laboratories for Autonomous Driving

140 international experts and interested parties from the sector, industry, and politics are participating in the 6th VDV Future Congress in Munich, which concludes today. The focus of the two-day conference in collaboration with the Transport Forum includes strategic presentations by transportation companies and the industry, particularly the new legal framework. 

At the congress and in the specialist discussions these days, it becomes clear how much the transportation companies are actively involved in the implementation and ramp-up of new systems. Autonomous driving is no longer just a futuristic idea; it is already a present-day topic. With the recent adoption of the Autonomous Vehicles Approval and Operation Ordinance (AFGBV) by the Federal Council, the legal framework for autonomous driving has now been set. We want to utilize this framework as a sector and bring autonomous transportation offerings to a wider area. (VDV Vice President Werner Overkamp)

From Real Laboratories to Commercial Regular Operation 

In addition, project reports and research results from both domestic and international sources are presented. To exploit the potential for the sector, it is necessary to bundle innovations, build fleets, and bring them into operational use. The industry experts also advocate for more innovation partnerships with the industry at the congress, to bring the new concepts and technologies into scheduled operations and wider areas in cooperation with German transportation companies. For this implementation to succeed, however, new funding instruments will be needed in the coming years.

Autonomous driving expands the classic public transport offering, whether on regular routes or on-demand, and can thus elevate the overall offering to a new level – and it costs money. The industry's desire is clear: the implementation of autonomous driving in public transport should be promoted with federal funding of public transport shuttles that operate autonomously at Level 4 in certain operational areas, to advance the development of Germany as a lead market. (Overkamp)

New Funding Strategy

The industry association VDV advocated at the congress for a new funding strategy "5x20x2025" for autonomous driving.

We need at least five real laboratories, each with 25 vehicles in various application areas, with the aim of bringing them into commercial operation by 2025. (Overkamp)