Audi wants to be able to test connected technologies more accurately, and announced today that it will work with Verizon to create a special test track to achieve that aim. Together, the two companies plan to build replicas of U.S., European, and Asian wireless networks at a single facility in Germany.
The location will allow Audi to more accurately simulate the conditions its vehicles are likely to encounter around the world. As a result, it hopes it will be able to design better connected technology that really works once its vehicles are in customers’ hands.
“This is about bringing network conditions from around the world to one test facility, allowing Audi to exceed the already lofty demands of the mobility market looking years into the future,” said TJ Fox, SVP of IIoT and automotive, Verizon. “Increasingly, vehicles are not just about transportation, but a means of communication, entertainment, education, and work – effectively, rolling cell phones and high-powered computers.”
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The track will be located in Neustadt, Germany, where Audi already operates its proving grounds. As you might expect, it will also be open to other Volkswagen Group brands as they work on their own connected technologies.
Since it’s designed to simulate conditions around the world, the test track will feature a wide variety of networks, including a dual 5G and LTE Modular Private Wireless platform, V2X infrastructure utilizing Amazon technology, and much more.
At the track, Audi will be able to test applications that include voice, video, safety, vehicle-to-cloud communication, vehicle-to-everything technologies, and more. It will also be helpful in testing autonomous technology.
“Our needs for this test track were complex and multi-dimensional, encompassing many technologies, geographic network conditions, and industry trends,” said Petr Kozak, Audi’s head of infotainment. “Verizon Business was able to provide a complete solution that will take time and cost out of the testing cycle and give us a competitive advantage in the global marketplace.”
Verizon and Audi have not yet stated when the test network will be up and running.
