First Fully Autonomous Driving Tests up to 120kph in EU Announced Using Maserati EV

On July 9, 2026, Aidoptation BV, an autonomous vehicle technology company based at DronePort in Sint-Truiden, Belgium, announced it has secured approval from Belgium’s Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport and the Flemish Agency for Roads and Traffic (AWV) to begin fully autonomous vehicle testing on public highways. The authorization covers a 100-kilometer section of the E313 and E314 motorways in Limburg and represents a major milestone for autonomous mobility in Europe.

According to the company, the project marks the first time a Level 4 autonomous driving system will be tested at highway speeds on public roads within the European Union. Unlike Level 2 advanced driver-assistance technologies, which require continuous human oversight and leave the driver legally responsible for vehicle operation, Level 4 systems are designed to handle all driving functions and environmental monitoring without human intervention under defined conditions.

“Being the first to test fully autonomous Level 4 technology on EU highways is a milestone moment for Aidoptation, the Belgian innovation ecosystem, and the broader autonomous driving industry. Autonomous driving has enormous potential to improve safety and mobility, but commercial adoption will depend on demonstrating safe performance in the most demanding highway scenarios. Testing on public highways will generate invaluable real-world data, validate our technology, and advance our mission of reducing fatalities and making highways safer for everyone,” said Paul Mitchell, CEO of Aidoptation.

“Innovation on our roads must first and foremost contribute to greater safety and economic progress. With companies such as Aidoptation, Flanders not only possesses strong expertise and technological ingenuity, but we are also putting that knowledge into practice on the road. By enabling testing under real-world conditions, we are developing concrete solutions that can save lives while strengthening our position as a European leader in smart mobility,” said Matthias Diependaele, Minister-President of Flanders.

The testing program will utilize a Maserati GranTurismo Folgore electric vehicle equipped with an array of LiDAR, radar, and camera sensors, along with specialized robotics hardware that enables autonomous operation at motorway speeds. Developed with racing tech, including silicon carbide inverters, Folgore boasts an impressive energy flow and high efficiency. The cutting-edge 800-volt battery powers three 300-kW permanent magnet motors, delivering up to 751 HP and an outstanding 995 LB-FT of torque across all four wheels.

The approval advances Aidoptation’s goal of improving road safety in one of the most dangerous driving environments: high-speed highways. At speeds of 120 km/h, a vehicle can travel more than 50 meters during the average driver’s reaction time, leaving little margin for avoiding hazards. While high-speed crashes are relatively uncommon, they often result in severe injuries, fatalities, and significant infrastructure damage. Successfully managing emergency situations and other complex “edge cases” at highway speeds is considered a critical challenge for the future of autonomous driving.

Founded in 2025 as a commercial spin-off of the U.S.-based Indy Autonomous Challenge, Aidoptation has already demonstrated its expertise in autonomous vehicle technology. The company’s engineering team previously set a world autonomous speed record of 318 km/h (197.7 mph) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center using a driverless Maserati MC20.

Aidoptation’s flagship product, EdgeDrive, is a Level 4 autonomous driving platform engineered specifically for highway travel at speeds of 120 km/h and above, where regulations permit. The system is designed to maintain safe vehicle control in situations where human reaction times, reduced tire grip, and vehicle dynamics can significantly increase accident risks. EdgeDrive relies on deterministic, physics-based models rather than artificial intelligence for decision-making, allowing every driving action to be traced and audited. This transparency is intended to support regulatory compliance and provide confidence to insurers and automotive manufacturers.

The company plans to offer EdgeDrive as either a standalone safety solution or an integrated module for automotive manufacturers and robotaxi operators seeking to expand the operational capabilities of Level 3 and Level 4 autonomous vehicles onto highways.

To earn highway-testing approval, Aidoptation spent the past year conducting extensive validation across a variety of road and weather conditions. Testing took place at locations including Ford Lommel Proving Grounds, DronePort’s runway facilities, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, and Circuit Zolder. The newly granted permit will allow the company to complement those controlled-environment evaluations with real-world traffic testing.

Highway trials will be carried out in phases under strict safety procedures established with Belgian authorities. A trained safety driver will remain in the vehicle and can assume control whenever necessary. The program is insured by Belgian insurer Ethias, providing an additional layer of oversight for public-road operations.

Aidoptation is supported by investors including LRM, SFPIM, Ethias Ventures, and Belfius Bank, and continues to focus on developing autonomous driving technology aimed at improving highway safety and expanding the capabilities of next-generation autonomous vehicles.