Germany allocates 14 million euros for autonomous driving research

The German Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV) has launched a new funding call of up to 14 million euros to support investments in vehicles with autonomous driving functions. The initiative specifically targets projects in public passenger transport and freight transport that aim to deploy autonomous vehicles permanently in public spaces.

Federal Transport Minister Steffen Bilger stated that autonomous driving offers the opportunity to rethink mobility, particularly by complementing public transport in rural and urban fringe areas. Additionally, the technology is expected to address rising transport demands and driver shortages in the freight sector. The funding aims to accelerate practical application, increase market penetration of autonomous systems, and strengthen Germany as an innovation hub for future mobility, focusing on safety, economic efficiency, and sustainability.