Spain: The company has secured a €80 mln R&D loan from the European Investment Bank.
The funds were granted under the bank’s recently launched TechEU innovation support programme in EU countries. The programme plans to provide €70 bln in loans for advanced technology development, with total investment projects expected to reach €250 bln by 2027.
CAF intends to use the loan for digitalisation and autonomous solutions, improving energy efficiency, and reducing emissions. The project will cover both rail and urban transport. The funds will be allocated between design bureaus in Spain and its Polish subsidiary Solaris, which specialises in wheeled vehicles.
CAF has been developing automation and alternative traction technologies for several years. Its recent tests include automatic operation systems on mainline trains, computer vision-equipped trams in Oslo, and a hydrogen-powered train undergoing trials.
