BMW opens a test track in the Czech Republic

In the Czech city of Sokolov, BMW is testing various assistance systems and solutions for autonomous driving. (Photo: BMW)

At the new site in Karlsbad, BMW wants to develop futuristic topics such as electrification, autonomous driving and digitalisation. The car manufacturer invests a total of about 300 million euros in this. The full commissioning is scheduled for next summer seminal. A total of more than 100 employees will be on site after that.

on me new technology fieldIt has an area of ​​approximately 90,000 square metres, with three separate boarding lanes, assistance systems and its behavior in cross traffic as well as emergency braking and evasive situations that can be tested. Tests are set up and controlled at the adjacent control station with temporary office workstations.

In the immediate vicinity of the area is six kilometers long The road to self-driving. Autonomous technologies for highway traffic should be developed on the circuit with exits and entrances.

“With the early use of two parts of the road to prepare for the official testing process, we are now testing new assistance systems in Sokolov from a driving safety point of view and are moving forward with the development of more test scenarios”Andreas Heb, BMW Group project manager for the test site in Sokolov, explains. “From mid-2023, the new test site in the Czech Republic will be an ideal complement to the BMW Group’s existing test areas at Ashheim near Munich, Miramas in France and Arjeplog in Sweden.”