The mayor of Stratford is thrilled to be able to help develop new economies, update infrastructure and drive innovation of the connected and autonomous vehicle.
Mayor Dan Mathieson was reacting to an announcement in Stratford on Wednesday by Premier Kathleen Wynne. She was on hand to officially open the new Autonomous Vehicle Innovation Network.
The unique demonstration zone is among the first in Canada, and will allow researchers to hone the technology, and test in a wide range of real-life scenarios.
The province is investing $80-million over five years in the technology.
Wynne says the technology is advancing rapidly and there's no doubt these vehicles will soon be a reality. She says this is a chance to ensure Ontario is a global leader in the revolution.
Over 150 Ontario companies and organizations are active in the industry, employing almost 10,000 people
The vehicles use wireless technology to link with other vehicles, transportation infrastructure, and mobile devices, giving drivers easy access to the information they need for a safe trip.
Two vehicles equipped with made-in-Ontario technology recently completed North America’s first national, cross-border automated vehicle test drive.