UK government announces £55m of funding to create a driverless car testing cluster

Testing infrastructure 'cluster' will be between London and Birmingham, and will include public test facilities

The UK government has announced the first phase of its £100m investment in connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) testing infrastructure, as it aims to established the UK as a centre of autonomous vehicle technology.

Business minister Greg Clark told delegates at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders' Connected conference this week that the £100m of government funding will be matched by industry over a four-year period.

The £200m total investment will support a range of projects, including public test facilities in a complex, real-world urban environment, as well as a controlled test environment that mirrors what it is like driving in a city. There will also be a controlled high-speed test environment that replicates motorway driving.

"By 2035, the global market for connected and autonomous vehicle technologies is predicted to be worth £63bn," said Clark.

"Our investment and collaboration with industry to build on our strengths and create a cluster of excellence that will ensure we are at the forefront of its development and perfectly positioned to lead and capitalise on this market," he added.

The government had made a commitment in the 2016 Autumn Statement to develop 'world-class' CAV testing infrastructure. The test bed will use existing UK CAV testing centres in Coventry, Birmingham, Milton Keynes, Oxford and London to create a national testing infrastructure cluster.

The government and its industry partners hope that by creating such a cluster, it can develop capabilities in this area, attract investment, and help improve understanding of the technology and infrastructure involved in autonomous vehicles.

Last year, the Centre of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles had called for evidence into how the UK could develop its CAV testing facilities with a particular focus on providing a test bed.