First automatic cars join traffic in Finland

Finland’s first test plates for the testing of automatic cars were issued to Metropolia University of Applied Sciences and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. The testing of automatic cars will begin in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area in July–August and in Tampere in September. Test plates will be approved for Tieto Group in August.

Metropolia will test automated, small electric buses in Helsinki, Espoo and Tampere, as part of the Sohjoa project. The aim of the project is to create an open innovation platform for Finnish companies for the development of new products and services, while increasing the understanding of the transition underway among cities and their residents. Buses were tested already last year at Vantaa Housing Fair, but now their use is being extended.

Tieto and VTT are testing the automatic functions of passenger cars in city traffic as part of the UrbanAutoTest project in the Tampere region. In addition to the vehicles’ functionality and situational awareness, the project will involve the development of tools and methods to enable testing, particularly with respect to the needs of Finnish SMEs. Functionalities to be tested include wireless data exchange between the vehicles and observation of the environment.

Traffic arrangements on the test routes will be planned individually between the authorities in charge of the road and those performing the trial. A separate safety plan has been drawn up in Trafi for each trial. Trafi encourages trials in automatic driving and provides support for the planning of such trials.

Finnish Transport Safety Agency

Special Adviser Eetu Pilli-Sihvola, eetu.pilli-sihvola (at) trafi.fi, tel. +358 29 5345 572

Chief Adviser Reijo Jälkö, reijo.jalko (at) trafi.fi, tel. +358 29 5345 306

Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Sohjoa project

Project Manager Harri Santamala, harri.santamala (at) metropolia.fi, tel. +358 40 334 1516