The Visio.M project is led by the Munich-based carmaker, with scientists from the Technische Universitaet Muenchen (TUM), while partners include Daimler, Continental, E.ON, Siemens and German motoring agency TÜV SÜD. Funding is provided by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF).

Participants will undertake research based on a prototype vehicle called MUTE, which will feature a 20bhp electric drivetrain in a body weighing 400kg without the battery. BMW predicts this will offer safety levels equivalent to a conventional car of the same size, while allowing testing of safety, propulsion, energy storage and production potential.