The ‘Assured CAV’ facility is nearing completion at automotive engineering specialist HORIBA MIRA’s site in Nuneaton, Warwickshire following a £100M investment.

It is designed to allow the automotive industry and policy makers to conduct scenario based testing to verify self driving vehicle technologies for safety before they are released onto public roads.

Scenarios able to be recreated at the site include urban environments where vehicles will experience pedestrians and cyclists, complex junctions and on street parking.

A multi storey car park will also support the development of automated parking, with vehicles finding their own parking spaces before returning to their passengers at a designated waiting area when requested.

HORIBA MIRA managing director Declan Allen said the facility – which opens in March – “represents many years of intense research and investment to bring together one of the most comprehensive CAV validation ecosystems in the world”.

The firm’s head of connected and autonomous vehicle technologies Chris Reeves added: “Although we've seen huge strides made in CAV technologies in recent years, the overriding challenge for the industry is giving consumers confidence that CAVs are safe enough to be on our roads.

“Our new Assured CAV ecosystem does just that and is a significant milestone in helping CAV developers bring their vehicles to market.”

The facility will also feature an ultra fast 5G network allowing vehicle communications systems to be verified, as well as testing ‘infotainment’ and cyber security.

As well as supporting the development of autonomous vehicles for safe public use, lessons from tests carried out can also be applied to influence future legislation, policy and insurance.