The German Federal Ministry of Transport has cleared the path for remote driving operations via teleoperators, marking a significant development in the country’s approach to emerging mobility technologies. A corresponding regulation was recently published in the Federal Law Gazette, as reported by Tagesspiegel Background.
This new “Remote Driving Regulation” establishes a legal framework for the testing of remotely operated vehicles on public roads. Christian Hirte, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Ministry of Transport, stated that the regulation aims to facilitate innovation while prioritizing safety and accountability.
The regulation permits a five-year testing phase, designed to allow for the development of new mobility concepts and lay the groundwork for a permanent legal framework. Teleoperation, or remote driving, involves operating a vehicle from a central control center via mobile communication, with the driver’s seat remaining unoccupied. Previously, Germany lacked the necessary legal basis to conduct these operations.
This lacuna has restricted the activities of companies like Berlin-based Vay and Munich-based Fernride, who have been limited to testing on private property, operating under special permits, or conducting trials abroad. The new regulation aims to remove these limitations and foster the advancement of this technology within Germany.
