Volkswagen Group Research is testing autonomous vehicles (AVs) in urban traffic in Hamburg, Germany.

This is the first time Volkswagen has begun to test Level 4 AVs in real driving conditions in a major German city.

For now, a fleet of five e-Golf, equipped with laser scanners, cameras, ultrasonic sensors, and radars, will drive on a 3-kilometer section of the digital test bed for automated and connected driving in the Hanseatic city. The results of the test drives, which will be continuously evaluated taking full account of all data protection rules, will be incorporated in Volkswagen's numerous research projects on automous driving, and will test customer-centric services and optimize individual transport.

A 9-kilometer long test track for automated and connected driving (TAVF) is being created in the city of Hamburg and will be upgraded to infrastructure-to-vehicle (I2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication by 2020.

It is characterized by realistic and demanding traffic situations.

The test track is an open platform for vehicle manufacturers, technology companies, and research institutions to trial innovative mobility services in real traffic conditions on public roads.

With the test track, the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg is creating a user-independent and technology-neutral application laboratory on which vehicle manufacturers, technology companies and research institutions can test innovative mobility services free of charge in real traffic on public roads. Interested companies and research institutions can apply at any time. The TAVF coordination center together with Hamburg takes various criteria like the impact of innovation, benefits for traffic flow and traffic safety or environmental effects on air quality into account.

Digital technology plays a key role in making urban mobility and logistics in Hamburg safer, more efficient, and more eco-friendly. Therefore, Hamburg’s strategy on intelligent transport systems is targeted at traffic safety, traffic flows, environmental effects, and the promotion of innovation.

These topics are pursued in six focal areas: data and information; intelligent traffic control and routing; intelligent infrastructure (maintenance and operation); intelligent parking; mobility as a service; and automated and connected driving.