Catalonia to become pioneer testing ground for autonomous and connected cars in Europe

Barcelona (ACN).-Catalonia will offer a pioneer testing ground for autonomous and connected cars. This Thursday the Catalan Minister of Business and Knowledge, Jordi Baiget, and the Catalan Home Affairs Minister, Jordi Jané, announced the project launch at the Barcelona Automobile congress, currently taking place, from 11 to 21 May in the Fira exhibition center. The ‘Catalonia Living Lab’ project, designed by the Catalan Government, the industry and sector agents, aims to offer vehicle and component manufacturers to conduct tests and validations of this technology on Catalan roads, circuits, and in cities.

To begin with, the ‘Catalonia Living Lab” tests areas will include 7 routes of almost 200 km, 7 areas of more than 12 square kilometers, and 3 circuits in different places around the country.

The Catalan Government will supervise the running of these tests with the purpose of contributing to the development and transformation of the automobile industry in Catalonia, strengthening Catalonia’s position worldwide and attracting new projects of foreign productive investment. 

Moreover, this initiative adds value to the automobile industry in Catalonia and promotes the country’s strategy regarding the 4.0 Industry. The goal is to lead the fourth industrial revolution in the south of Europe.