Hungary opens a major test track for self-driving cars

Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán has opened a 265 hectare test track near the city of Zalaegerszeg, in the southwestern part of the Eastern European country, about 180 km from Budapest. The circuit is intended, among other things, for testing self-driving cars.

According to the ZalaZone circuit website, the project is intended not only for the testing of conventional vehicles, but also for ‘validation tests’ for autonomous and electric vehicles. Hungary Today writes that the Hungarian government has invested almost 138 million euros in it. The project consists of different phases.

László Vigh, the minister responsible for the circuit, says that the first five hectares of the so-called Smart City Zone have now been completed. Here an urban area is simulated to create realistic traffic situations. Ultimately, communication techniques such as Wi-Fi and 5G will become available there, as will ‘intelligent transport systems’. This is where the self-driving vehicles will probably be tested. From 2020, the second phase of ZalaZone will start.

The circuit will have many different parts. For example, there will be an oval where conventional cars can reach up to 200 km/h. There are also parts where rural and highways are simulated and a part where the braking capacity can be tested. There will also be areas with slopes, bad roads, water basins and asphalt to measure the noise.

In an accompanying speech, Orbán also discusses the added value of the circuit for his country. He says that Hungary has 620 companies active in the automotive sector and that 15 of the 20 largest vehicle manufacturers and vehicle industry suppliers are active in the country.