Bosch has secured A$2.3m ($1.64m) from the Victoria Government’s Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) Trial Grants Programme to carry out testing of automated vehicle technology in the Australian state’s rural areas.

The A$9m ($6.44m) programme is funded through the state government’s A$1.4bn ($1bn) Zero Action Plan.

The first on-road trial this year has been approved under the new Automated Driving System (ADS) permit scheme.

Bosch also obtained the state’s first ADS permit for on-road testing of highly automated driving systems.

The ADS permit scheme authorises the use of automated vehicles for testing and development on the roads. Victoria finalised regulations for this last year.

Bosch is currently developing its automated vehicle technology.

“We’re rolling out a record roads investment in rural Victoria, and this is another way we can improve safety and save lives.”

Victoria Acting Premier Jacinta Allan said: “The tragic fact is that you’re five times as likely to be killed on a rural road than in the city. That’s why we’re rolling out a record roads investment in rural Victoria, and this is another way we can improve safety and save lives.”

Intended to technology to improve safety on rural Victorian roads, the trial will be conducted on roads that expose the automated vehicle to various conditions such as traffic, weather and infrastructure.

VicRoads sought expressions of interest in late-2017 from companies, industry bodies and other transport technology organisations to apply for funding to boost developing these technologies.

Successful applicants are expected to be announced soon.

Knowledge gained from the trials is intended to help obtain a better understanding of the infrastructure needed to get these vehicles on the road.