State-of-the-art test sites for the car of the future

Connected and automated driving, electro mobility and autonomous cars with artificial intelligence are the cornerstones of the new mobility. From driver assistance systems and V2X traffic networking to electric cars, TÜV Rheinland is the ideal partner for automobile manufacturers, suppliers, authorities, start-up companies, insurance companies and fleet providers when it comes to developing technologies for the car of the future. We support you in all areas and offer complete service from a single source - this includes the provision of state-of-the-art test areas for testing and developing new technologies as well as certification for use in series production models and the execution of complete test series.

We have decades of experience in the type approval, testing and evaluation of vehicles and vehicle systems. In the past, our organization was jointly responsible for the approval testing of various ADAS assistants. In addition, we are significantly involved in the development of new type approval procedures - for example for future generations of driver assistance systems.

We have an active cooperation with two partner test sites / proving grounds – where car manufactures, both OEMs and suppliers alike can find the perfect conditions for realistic development and test drives. These test sites are ZalaZONE Automotive Proving Ground at the scenic Lake Balaton Hungary and the Aldenhoven Testing Center of RWTH Aachen. Both test tracks are set-up with a complex infrastructure that allows complete test executions for system evaluation, and the development of test processes and scenarios. Both sites enable valid and reproducible test results, applying to conventional vehicle tests as well as tests on connected and automated driving, driver assistance systems, electro mobility, V2X traffic networking and others. On site, you also benefit from our comprehensive service portfolio, which includes the provision of experienced and highly trained test drivers and development engineers and the access to a special test vehicle pool.

With an investment of 150 million euros, ZalaZONE Automotive Proving Ground, on 265 hectare is one of the most modern test areas in Europe. The site offers perfect conditions for testing autonomous driving and the development of connected vehicles. A special feature is the so-called “Smart City Zone”, at 20 hectare and available in HD mapped form, it enables the realistic testing of inner-city and other urban traffic situations with the help of state-of-the-art V2X networking, combined with both the physical set-up and simulated set-up of typical city scenarios. For example, driver assistance systems can be specifically tested for their performance even in critical dynamic situations. In addition to the “Smart City Zone”, there is a multitude of different topographies and scenarios – from country roads and motorways to high speed city traffic and special braking surfaces. The testing possibilities are quite endless with the infrastructure also being designed for the testing of electric cars and the prototypes of vehicles over 40 tonnes including public transport. Lastly, ZalaZONE is a hub for public road testing on Hungarian roads including those around the test facility, and even approved tests across the nearby national borders.

On the Aldenhoven Testing Center, located between Cologne and Aachen, the CERMcity project started in 2018 with the support of our Group. The abbreviation CERM stands for "Center for European Research on Mobility". The area creates an urban test and validation environment for automated vehicles and connectivity. In Aldenhoven, our experts develop and validate test procedures and relevant processes for automation functions, driver assistance systems and safe, automated driving.

We are the competent and reliable partner at your side when it comes to the certification of innovative technologies - for example for autonomous driving or advanced driver assistance systems. As one of the world's leading independent test service providers, our company enjoys an excellent reputation. Therefore, our expertise and many years of experience are also in great demand in supporting the development of regulations and legislation, such as the UNECE development of guidelines for future approval tests of autonomous vehicles. We are already actively shaping the framework conditions for the car of the future. This is a genuine unique selling proposition from which automotive customers benefit directly.

TÜV Rheinland's wide range of tailor-made services demonstrates the company's leading role in the field of new mobility and makes it a competent and reliable partner for customers in the automotive sector.