Focus on autonomous driving: Ingolstadt showcases the mobility of tomorrow

The future was brought to life in the centre of Ludwigstraße: THI's AI mobility hub AImotion Bavaria impressively presented its latest advances in the field of autonomous driving and intelligent mobility. The crowd-puller was a highly equipped Audi Q8, fitted with state-of-the-art sensors and AI technology. The vehicle is part of ambitious research projects that collect real traffic data to perfect assistance systems and pave the way for fully autonomous, safe driving.

The presentation was complemented by VR goggles, which provided a fascinating insight into mobility concepts. An e-scooter simulator provided action on site - even Bavaria's Minister of State for Science and the Arts, Markus Blume, did not miss out on the experience. The Schanzer Racing Team from THI provided additional colour accents with a bright blue electric racing car. Developed by students, the vehicle epitomises the close integration of research, teaching, and practice and shows how interdisciplinary collaboration inspires innovation.

These exhibits make it clear why Ingolstadt is one of the hotspots for future technologies: With AImotion Bavaria as the Bavarian AI mobility hub, the nationwide control centre for vehicle safety CARISSMA, and a modern test field for automated driving, THI has a research and development infrastructure that is second to none. Mobile sensor masts, drone technologies, and networked test environments create a unique real-world laboratory that sets standards and makes the future of mobility tangible today.

Bavaria's Minister of Science, Markus Blume: "The IAA Mobility is a showcase - and the THI is showing what it can do! From scooter simulators to self-driving cars: with its own stand in Ludwigstraße, THI is demonstrating that it is developing and already realising the mobility of the future. It is doing real pioneering work: in the field of autonomous driving, it has achieved the world's first data set in which several vehicles are travelling at several intersections. This is a milestone for the actual application of autonomous driving systems, which shows that our Bavarian AI mobility hub, with over 200 scientists in the fields of vehicle safety and autonomous mobility, is perfectly docked at the THI. One thing is clear: THI is an indispensable driver of the mobility transition."

"We are using the expertise of our more than 300 scientists to maintain the region's leading role in a key technology," emphasised THI President Professor Walter Schober. "With our unique testing and research infrastructure and our expertise in vehicle safety and automated driving, we can not only develop concepts in theory, but also put them directly into practice."

The city of Ingolstadt also used the trade fair to emphasise its role as a location for innovation. The mobility and economic region of Ingolstadt combines entrepreneurial strength, science, and municipal responsibility. At the IAA, we show that innovation is not just a question of technology, but the result of close partnerships - regionally rooted and internationally connectable," explained Professor Georg Rosenfeld, Ingolstadt's head of economic affairs.

According to the Innovation Atlas, the region is one of the most dynamic locations in Germany. High research intensity, a strong automotive industry, and close networks between science, industry, and the public sector create an environment that not only produces new mobility solutions but also makes them directly applicable.