The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) today inaugurated Southeast Asia's first Intelligent Vehicle and Autonomous Driving Proving Ground, featuring all-weather, full-speed, and all-vehicle testing capabilities, at domestic Automotive Research & Testing Center (ARTC). The launch ceremony was witnessed by VIPs including Legislators Yang Chiung-ying, Chen Hsiu-pao, and Hsieh Yi-fong, together with MOEA Deputy Minister Ho Chin-tsang.

This state-of-the-art proving ground supports autonomous driving validation at speeds of up to 110 km/h under extreme environmental conditions-including torrential rain, dense fog, tunnels, and elevated roadways. Its establishment marks a significant milestone in Taiwan's pursuit of intelligent mobility innovation and demonstrates the government's strong commitment to advancing the smart-vehicle industry.

Deputy Minister Ho emphasized that the launch represents a new era for Taiwan's automotive sector. Through a total investment of NT$1 billion in technology development programs, Taiwan has built comprehensive international-level testing capabilities for smart and autonomous vehicles-covering smart cockpits, integrated drive-control systems, and now the most advanced autonomous-driving test facility in Asia.

Facing global tariff adjustments and intensified price competition from China, Taiwan's strengths in smart system integration, combined with its robust ICT supply chain and the flexibility of its SMEs, create a distinctive global advantage. Ho noted that this proving ground serves not only as a hardware facility but also as a strategic platform to accelerate industrial transformation and upgrading. The MOEA will continue providing policy and resource support, enabling ARTC to become a premier testing hub in Asia and helping local industries capture opportunities in the booming global AI-driven smart mobility markets.

ARTC Chairman Jerry Wang explained that the newly completed "Weather Simulation Tunnel Test Zone" and "Elevated Road Test Zone" reproduce realistic conditions such as heavy rainfall, fog, glare, and varying slopes, enabling comprehensive testing of perception, positioning, and decision-making systems. The "Suburban Road Test Zone", expected for completion in 2026, will further enrich the variety of complex traffic scenarios available for validation. By integrating its international-standard research and testing capabilities, ARTC provides a one-stop service chain-from R&D and testing to commercialization-offering solid technical backing to Taiwan's automotive industry.

Within the facility, ADAS systems can be tested for detection and response under heavy rain or fog, while autonomous driving systems can conduct positioning and route planning in GPS-obstructed or elevated environments.
These capabilities will significantly shorten product development cycles, enhance reliability, and strengthen the international credibility of Taiwan's auto-electronics. The new proving ground is also expected to attract collaborations with leading global automakers and technology providers, establishing Taiwan as a vital innovation hub in the international smart vehicle ecosystem.