AVL Testing Autonomous Vehicle on Austrian Highway for the First Time

For the first time, AVL List GmbH, a global technology company, completed a test drive with an autonomous vehicle on the Pyhrnautobahn highway in Styria, Austria during a well-attended press conference at the AVL test track in Gratkorn. The test drive was authorized by the Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology. Helmut List, CEO of AVL: “The decree to conduct test drives with autonomous driver assistance systems on Styrian roads is a major step toward fast, efficient and enhanced solutions for the benefit of customers. We can all contribute significantly to a secure mobility of the future.”

During the first tests, a vehicle with longitudinal and lateral control was used. The vehicle is able to autonomously drive over a longer period of time on certain road sections – i.e. the vehicle steers, brakes and accelerates independently. For security reasons, the vehicle’s functions were constantly supervised by experienced test drivers.

A Pioneer in the Field of Autonomous Driving

The first official test drive on the Pyhrnautobahn highway is a momentous event for both AVL and the mobility sector. “Today is a historical day. Autonomous cars will make everyday life more secure, and there will be less accident victims on the roads, as technology helps to prevent fatal mistakes”, Jörg Leichtfried, Federal Minister of Transport, Innovation and Technology said.