Otokar’s Autonomous e-Centro Successfully Passes Tests By Tüv Rheinland

The Autonomous e-Centro, developed and engineered by Otokar, a Koç Group company, has successfully completed comprehensive testing by TÜV Rheinland in Hungary. Over a 30-day period, the vehicle was evaluated in 148 different scenario variations and passed more than 600 autonomous driving tests. As the first Turkish Autonomous vehicle which was tested by TÜV Rheinland, the Autonomous e-Centro is now ready for type approval, paving the way for the future of smart urban transportation.

Türkiye’s leading automotive manufacturer, Otokar, has achieved another milestone in autonomous driving technology. Representing the engineering capability, the Autonomous e-Centro has undergone the comprehensive testing process conducted by TÜV Rheinland at the Smart City test track of the ZalaZONE proving ground in Hungary. Over a 30-day testing program, Otokar’s innovative vehicle successfully completed more than 600 autonomous driving function test runs across 148 different scenario variations.

FIRST TURKISH AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE TESTED BY TÜV RHEINLAND
TÜV Rheinland teams rigorously tested Otokar's entirely in-house developed autonomous driving technology through a series of autonomous driving tests. The tests included scenarios such as collision avoidance, emergency braking, various types of junction crossings, overtaking and evasive maneuvers, stopping at and departing from designated bus stops, interactions with pedestrians, and responses to sudden maneuvers by other road users. The vehicle demonstrated well performance throughout during the tests.

The Otokar e-Centro also successfully passed lateral and vertical control tests, including cornering, lane keeping, sharp turns, compliance with traffic rules, and object recognition in nighttime and low-light conditions. TÜV Rheinland’s field test team operated the Autonomous e-Centro on public roads of Hungary for five days, testing it on two separate routes in real traffic conditions, proving its durability and reliability for everyday use. As a result, the Otokar Autonomous e-Centro was the first Turkish vehicle tested by TÜV Rheinland.

A MAJOR STEP TOWARD THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORTATION
“We are proud that the Autonomous e-Centro is the first Turkish autonomous vehicle to be assessed and succeeded in TÜV Rheinland’s main test track located at ZalaZONE” said Erdal Usta, Otokar Commercial Vehicles Engineering Group Director. Highlighting Otokar’s capabilities Erdal Usta continued: “Thanks to Otokar’s engineering capabilities in autonomous driving technologies, the Autonomous e-Centro represents a significant milestone not only for Türkiye but also on a global scale. It will lead the way in delivering safe, sustainable, and accessible transportation in the smart cities of the future.”

24/7 DRIVERLESS OPERATION CAPABILITY
Equipped with Level 4 autonomous driving technology, in the future, the e-Centro is capable of fully driverless operation. Designed to comply with traffic regulations, the vehicle accurately identifies its location and delivers uninterrupted service throughout the day, in different weather conditions. It precisely approaches designated stops, ensuring smooth boarding and disembarkation for passengers. All software development, testing, and implementation for the Autonomous e-Centro were carried out entirely in-house by Otokar’s highly skilled and dedicated teams.