Oxford-based autonomous vehicle software company Oxbotica says it’s become the first British firm to manage driverless vehicles on the right hand side of the road.

Official trials started in Germany last month on public roads near Friedrichshafen, with a fleet of vehicles successfully navigating a complex urban environment.

It’s now been granted an automated vehicle permit, having met a “rigorous assessment framework” including detailed hazard analysis and the combination of physical real-world tests and scenario-based simulations.

Oxbotica says this validation testing brings it a step closer towards the international commercial deployment of its autonomous software stack on urban and rural roads, and is a key milestone for the UK AV industry.

CEO Ozgur Tohumcu said, “The landmark TÜV SÜD AV permit recommendation in Germany allows us to test in one of the world’s leading automotive markets, helping accelerate future deployments both in the region and globally. Our ability to understand and adapt to the rules of the road for driving both on the left and right-hand side of the road provides a fast route to market for our autonomous vehicle software. It also paves the way to take our autonomous driving software internationally through the ongoing commercial engagements with our partners.”