Aidoptation has received approval from Belgian authorities to conduct level 4 autonomous driving tests on public highways, the first time a fully autonomous system will operate at highway speeds on public roads in the European Union. The permit covers 100 km of the E313 and E314 highways in Limburg province at speeds up to 120 km/h.

Authorisation was granted by the Federal Public Service Mobility and the Flemish Agency for Roads and Traffic. Tests will use a Maserati GranTurismo Folgore equipped with LiDAR, radar and camera sensors. A human safety driver supervises throughout and can take control at any point.

The trials are designed to validate EdgeDrive, Aidoptation’s level 4 platform built for highway operation above 120 km/h. Its decision-making relies on deterministic models rather than artificial intelligence, making outputs fully traceable for regulators and insurers. The platform targets automotive OEMs and robotaxi operators seeking to extend their operational design domains to motorway conditions, where human reaction time and road grip approach their limits.

Aidoptation was founded in 2025 as a spin-off of the Indy Autonomous Challenge and holds a world autonomous speed record of 318 km/h set at Kennedy Space Center in an unoccupied Maserati MC20. Prior to the highway permit, the firm spent a year testing across proving grounds including Spa-Francorchamps and Circuit Zolder.

In a statement, Paul Mitchell, Chief Executive of Aidoptation, described the permit as “a milestone moment for Aidoptation, the Belgian innovation ecosystem, and the broader autonomous driving industry,” saying the trials would “advance our mission of reducing fatalities and making highways safer for everyone.”

Source: Aidoptation