Contact Point Automated Mobility

Ongoing communication with testing companies is of central importance to the Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure and the Contact Point Automated Mobility. This dialogue not only facilitates the evaluation of ongoing test drives but also provides insights into potential test projects that go beyond the current provisions of the Automated Driving Ordinance (AutomatFahrV). It enables the Ministry and the Contact Point to identify needs and develop proposals for extending the legal framework for automated driving for testing purposes. 

Given the identified demand and the rapid progress in driver assistance and automated driving systems, it is necessary for the legal framework to keep pace with these technological advances. To enable their deployment, including for testing purposes, the AutomatFahrV was amended for the third time in October 2024. 

In its current version, § 7 "Automated Vehicle for Passenger Transport" consolidates two previously separate use cases: § 7 "Automated Minibus" and § 7a "Automated Vehicle for Passenger Transport". Additionally, a new use case for testing purposes has been added: § 9c "Automated impact protection vehicle". The 2024 amendment also permits the use of external roadside sensors and Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS) communication to support automated driving functions across all use cases. 

Key Provisions of the Amendment:

§ 7 „Automated vehicle for passenger transport“: 

• Expansion to the entire vehicle category M (includes vehicle categories M1, M2 and M3) 

• Removal of the previous limit of 15 passengers, now allowing standing passengers. 

• Increased maximum speed of up to 30 km/h for vehicles without type approval.

§ 9c „Automated impact protection vehicle“: 

• Applicable to approved vehicles in the N vehicle class. 

• The system must be capable of managing all driving tasks at speeds up to 20 km/h. 

• Exclusively allowed for impact protection purpose on motorways and express roads. 

• At a maximum speed of 10 km/h and under certain conditions, the operator may be located outside the vehicle (in close proximity). 

These updates emphasise the dynamic evolution of the AutomatFahrV and its critical role in promoting innovative mobility solutions in Austria. 

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