Another significant step toward implementation of BMW Group’s project involving construction of its new testing centre in the Sokolov district was taken in Prague on Friday, 15 June 2018, when Minister of Industry and Trade Tomáš Hüner and Herbert Grebenc of BMW AG signed a Declaration on Cooperation between the Government of the Czech Republic and BMW AG. The new facility, which will cover an area of approximately 500 hectares north of Sokolov in the Karlovy Vary region, will be one of the company’s four main testing and development centres. Among other things, the centre will specialise in development of systems for future autonomous vehicles.
The signing of the joint declaration was preceded by successful negotiations with representatives of the Karlovy Vary region; the land owner, Sokolovská Uhelná a.s.; CzechInvest and the Czech government. The signing of the declaration was also attended by German ambassador Christoph Israng.