The federal government launched a call for funding regarding “autonomous and networked driving in public transport”.
The government is providing 55 million euros to promote autonomous and networked driving in public transport. Applications can be submitted to the Federal Agency for Administrative Services (BAV) by October 21. The focus is on research in the application area and the integration of other forms of transport in a digital environment. The declared goal is the regular operation of level 4 vehicles in public transport.
It is also about traffic safety, environmental compatibility and acceptance of technology. The vehicles should also be barrier-free and thus make it possible to change trains. The aim is also to increase the visibility of these modes of transport and to help adapt the legal framework.
The last grant expired in 2021. The government supported 31 projects between 2019 and 2021 with a total of 169 million euros. Looking back to 2016, 41 research programs were funded with the Action Plan Research for Autonomous Driving. It was about that HMI, traffic management, networking and social aspects.