NIB finances vehicle safety testing track in western Sweden

Photo: AstaZero.

NIB and the Swedish road- and vehicle safety company AstaZero AB have signed a 12-year maturity loan totalling SEK 260 million (EUR 26 million) to finance investments in the AstaZero testing ground in Borås, Sweden.

AstaZero is the world’s first full-scale environment for testing automated driving solutions that are aimed at preventing accidents. The site is open to car manufacturers, suppliers, regulators, road authorities and universities for product development and research in advanced traffic safety solutions.

The focus of the research conducted at AstaZero comprises active safety technology, loss prevention solutions and the development of intelligent vehicles and traffic systems.

The site includes a 5.7 kilometre rural road, an urban area with buildings and streets, a multi-lane road and a track for high-speed testing. Operations began in 2014.

“The research conducted at the AstaZero site will contribute to lower traffic incident rates and fewer road fatalities. It will also advance the development of more energy-efficient transport, such as electrified roads and environmental road trains. This qualifies the project for a loan from NIB”, says Henrik Normann, NIB President & CEO.

The site is located within the West Sweden automotive cluster, which has been recognized as a leader among car manufacturers in terms of vehicle safety. Considerable expertise has been developed in the field and can now be accessed by researchers utilising the AstaZero testing site.

AstaZero AB is owned by the state-owned SP Sveriges Tekniska Forskningsinstitut and the Chalmers University of Technology Foundation via its subsidiary Chalmers University of Technology Ltd. The company is headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden.

NIB is an international financial institution owned by eight member countries: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden. The Bank finances private and public projects in and outside the member countries. NIB has the highest possible credit rating, AAA/Aaa, with the leading rating agencies Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s.

For further information, please contact

Nordic Investment Bank:

Mr Tore Emanuelsson, Senior Manager, Origination, at +358 10 618 0244,

Ms Lisa-Maria Altenberger, Communications Unit, at +358 10 618 0234,

AstaZero AB:

Mr Pether Wallin, CEO AstaZero, at +46 767 777 400,