Contact Point Automated Mobility

Activities in 2024

The Contact Point for Automated Mobility looks back on an eventful year in 2024, marked by a high number of submitted test applications and many consultation hours. The increasing demand highlights the sustained interest in testing automated vehicles on public roads in Austria, emphasizing the growing significance of this field. Through numerous consultations, the Contact Point provided applicants with tailored support and specific recommendations for their test projects.

Enhancing efficiency in the test application process

The provision of comprehensive and accurate documentation is crucial for a seamless and successful test application process. In 2024, the Contact Point Automated Mobility set a strategic goal to conduct a thorough evaluation of existing processes and documentation. In close coordination with the Federal Ministry and based on continuous knowledge exchange—particularly through on-site visits with testing companies—all templates and accompanying documents were optimised.

Applicants are required to always use the latest templates when submitting a test application to the Contact Point Automated Mobility, available at https://www.austriatech.at/en/testantraege-kontaktstelle/

Key updates at a glance

The test application form has been revised to collect additional details about the vehicle and its functionalities, now featuring a more structured layout for improved clarity. Furthermore, a new guideline has been introduced to outline the procedure and responsibilities in the event of an accident, accompanied by a newly developed accident report form.

Additionally, the following modifications have been implemented in the test process in 2024:

In addition to the biannual test reports, which summarize insights from the past six months, a closing review is now conducted upon completion of test operations. This strengthens the focus on active knowledge exchange while simultaneously reducing the administrative burden on applicants.

A mandatory template for the summary of the route analysis and risk assessment has been introduced as part of the application process. This ensures more efficient processing by the responsible authorities, facilitating a faster and smoother approval workflow.

» Testing new technologies presents companies with increasingly complex regulatory requirements. As the contact point, we are happy to take on the task of assisting organisations with the application process and look forward to continually improving this process and the accompanying documents. «

Portrait Jovana Karahasanović © AustriaTech / Golden Hour Pictures

Jovana Karahasanović

Expert Automated Mobility, AustriaTech

Overview of test drives in Austria

The continuous exchange between testing companies, the Contact Point Automated Mobility, and the Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology remains an integral part of the process. In addition to consultation meetings with the Contact Point, offered before and during the application process, on-site visits play a vital role in facilitating knowledge transfer and in gaining practical insights into the test drives.

In 2024, the following test permits were active in accordance with the use cases defined by the Austrian Automated Driving Ordinance (AutomatFahrV):

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