Germany

Legislative basis for CCAM testing

Legal basis for testing:

• Eight Act amending the Road Traffic Act (2017). (For L3 vehicles)
• Act amending the Road Traffic Act and the Compulsory Insurance Act Road Traffic Act (2021). (For L4 vehicles)
• Ordinance regulating the operation of motor vehicles with automated and autonomous driving functions and amending road traffic legislation (2022). (For L3 vehicles)

Contact Information: Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt;

mail: af@kba.de

Application Requirements

The application procedure is defined here.

Entities allowed to apply to the exemption: Anyone who fulfils the conditions for testing on public roads.

List of requirements:

• Completed application form.
• Insurance for vehicle.
• Registration of the vehicle.
• Description of the modifications to the test vehicle (if based on type-approved vehicle).
• Description of the automated driving function, which is intended to be tested.
• Conducted risk assessment/ analysis.
• Confirmation of / information to road operator.
• Documentation of successful pre-tests on proving ground.
• Performing a successful pre-testing phase on public roads with no passengers.

Responsible for the safety validation: Public Authority, Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (Federal Motor Transport Authority).

Average handling time for the process: Depends on the complexity of the respective approval process.

Application fee: Depends on the expenses/effort.

Conditions for Testing

Vehicle categories: Cars, Trucks, Buses, Shuttles.

SAE levels: No limitations.

ADAS / AD systems: No limitations.

Use-Cases: No limitations.

Geographical areas: Is limited to urban areas, to suburban areas, to rural areas, to highways and motorways, to specific areas defined by the government. Concerning Level 4 vehicles, for testing and regular operation there needs to be an approved operational area where the vehicle is able to operate.

Permit validity: The trialling approval must be limited and may not, in general, be valid for more than four years. It can be extended for another two years each time provided the requirements for the issuance of the approval continue to exist and unless the course of trialling to date prevents an extension. If third parties lodge appeals against the trialling approval or its extension, the period of validity of the trialling approval is automatically extended by the number of days of the appeal’s suspensory effect.

Driver Requirements

Safety driver: Yes, always required.

Remote operation with no safety driver inside or in sight of the vehicle: Allowed, intervention only to initiate the risk-minimal-manoeuvre.

Data Requirements

Black box needed: Yes, the functionalities of a black box will be needed, while a vehicle is operating in automated driving mode.

In the event of an accident, an event data recorder will capture anonymized vehicle driving data in conformity with the EU data protection provisions. The findings derived from the data will make it possible to conduct detailed accident research and evolve automotive engineering requirements in a targeted manner.

Obligation to report to authority during/after CCAM tests: Yes.

Test reports availability to the public: Not available.

Obligation to report to authority in case of accident: Yes.

Requirements on data recording: Is required to store various data, including the vehicle identification number, position, activation/deactivation times of AD features, environmental and weather conditions, and speed. The Federal Motor Transport Authority (Kraftfahrt Bundesamt) and relevant authorities must have access to this data as necessary. Data must be stored during specific events, such as technical supervision interventions, incidents/accidents, and operational disruptions. Vehicle manufacturers must equip vehicles to store this data and inform owners about privacy settings and data processing.

Requirements on disclosing data during/after tests: Yes, please see section 16 of the Ordinance.

Data exchange mechanism specified: Yes, please see section 16 of the ordinance.

Infrastructure

Testing facilities on public roads: There are different test beds for automated and connected driving in Germany.

Testing facilities on private areas:

• Aldenhoven
• Dekra

 

Cross-border CCAM Testing

There is already a cross-border test bed between Germany, France and Luxemburg. The Franco-German Initiative on Electric and Digital Mobility was launched at the end of September 2016. In 2017, Luxembourg joined the Test Bed.

Supportive Documents

• Ethical Guidelines by the Ethics Commission on ACD.
• Application procedure here.