This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42040856

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Budget 2017: Philip Hammond to announce boost for driverless cars Budget 2017: Green light for driverless car testing
(about 3 hours later)
Wednesday's Budget will include plans to make the UK the best place to manufacture and road-test driverless cars, the chancellor has said. The testing of driverless cars on UK roads is expected to be given the green light in Wednesday's Budget.
Writing in the Sun newspaper, Mr Hammond said investment in "exciting new technologies", including in driverless cars, will be announced. Chancellor Philip Hammond will announce regulation changes to allow developers to apply to test the vehicles.
This will "prepare the ground" for the cars to be on UK roads by 2021, he said. Writing in the Sun, he said investment would "prepare the ground" for the cars to be on roads by 2021.
Mr Hammond said the "inventors dream" will soon become a reality. Investment in technology including artificial intelligence and 5G mobile networks will also be announced.
The technology that allows cars to become more autonomous has been increasing in recent years, with all the main manufacturers now offering some element of driverless technology, including self-parking features and cruise control on motorways.
The announcement comes after the UK's biggest car manufacturer, Jaguar Land Rover, began testing driverless cars on public roads.The announcement comes after the UK's biggest car manufacturer, Jaguar Land Rover, began testing driverless cars on public roads.
The trials, which rely on sensors that allow the cars to detect traffic, pedestrians and signals, took place in Coventry city centre over several weeks.The trials, which rely on sensors that allow the cars to detect traffic, pedestrians and signals, took place in Coventry city centre over several weeks.
Jaguar said a human was on board to react to emergencies.Jaguar said a human was on board to react to emergencies.
In his article Mr Hammond said: "Take driverless cars. This was once just an inventors dream, but it will soon become a reality. In his article Mr Hammond said: "This was once just an inventor's dream, but it will soon become a reality.
"We can stand by and watch this happen, or we can embrace it and take full advantage of what is in front of us."We can stand by and watch this happen, or we can embrace it and take full advantage of what is in front of us.
"My Budget will include plans to make Britain a world leader in this area - the best place for developers to make and road test prototype vehicles.""My Budget will include plans to make Britain a world leader in this area - the best place for developers to make and road test prototype vehicles."
He said the industry could be worth £28bn to the UK economy by 2035, and could create tens of thousands of new jobs. The government said the industry would be worth £28bn to the UK economy by 2035 and will support 27,000 jobs.
Mr Hammond also said the government will set up a National Retraining Scheme with the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress to retrain people. Labour quipped that under the Tories it would not only be the cars with no-one in the driving seat.
He added that money will also be invested in construction training programmes to ensure there are enough construction workers to build homes. Mr Hammond is also expected to announce:
Funding for 5G technology will go towards the National Cyber Security Centre to ensure the security of the network, as well as testing on roads to help provide the network needed for driverless cars.
A further £35m will be used to give rail passengers reliable mobile connections and "lightning-speed" internet during journeys. Trials are due to begin on the Trans-Pennine route, which connects Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool.
Up to £20m will support companies using AI technology to develop services and £45m will be used to increase the number of PhD students studying AI to 200 per year.
A further £9m will fund an advisory body to ensure safe and ethical innovation.
The government said a £400m Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund will improve access to finance for businesses to build electric car charge points and £100m will be invested in the Plug-in Car Grant to help with the cost of buying battery-electric vehicles.
A national retraining scheme will begin, with £36m invested in digital skills courses using AI.
Construction training programmes for groundworkers, bricklayers, roofers and plasterers will get £40m.