The successes of Stanley and Junior—autonomous vehicles that won the DARPA Grand Challenge and Urban Challenge races—demonstrate that cooperation between science and industry can drive the development of significant new technologies, VW said. With VAIL, the traditionally close cooperation between Volkswagen Group and Stanford University will take on a new aspect with the common purpose to focus even more intensively on innovative technologies to improve mobility, vehicle safety and environmental protection.

The center, which is still under construction, will provide about 750 square meters of space for research teams from the fields of mechanical engineering, electronics and information technology, as well as a fully equipped workshop area. VAIL will also include a vehicle proving ground. In addition to its contribution of $2 million towards the construction project, Volkswagen will also fund Stanford’s CarLab to the tune of $750,000 per year over the next five years. This interdisciplinary research center, which is also new, is expected to attract top-notch, young international scientists and provide them with opportunities for independent research.