Automated driving took a step forward in Germany yesterday, with the commencement of the PEGASUS research project, which aims to create more cost-effective and safer test methods for automated driving including motorway tests at speeds of 130 km/h.

The project will run for 40 months, with government funding of €16.3 million (approximately $17.75 million), and brings together 14 industry partners — most of them from Germany’s innovative small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) landscape — with two scientific research institutes and a technical inspection company.

“Automated driving is a crucial driver for innovation and value creation, playing a significant role in automobile location Germany,” said State Secretary for Economics and Energy Matthias Machnig. “We need these procedures and standards in testing in order to maintain our position at the forefront of the automobile, supplier and service-provider industries.”

Germany’s commitment to automated driving and e-mobility has long been an integral part of the country’s long-term strategy within the country’s auto industry, with the stated aim of having 1 million electric cars on the road by 2020.

“Germany continues to lead the way in research and innovation, using small, flexible companies grouped together in order to find efficient, cost-effective and potential global standard solutions,” said Stefan Di Bitonto, senior manager of transportation technologies at Germany Trade & Invest. “Such companies benefit from projects such as these and become global leaders in tiny but critical niches with a variety of global applications, making them perfect investment targets.”