Automotopark in Elbasan to become national hub for training, testing, and road safety

Prime Minister Edi Rama announced that the new Automotopark under construction in Elbasan will serve as Albania’s central hub for road safety training, vehicle testing, and driving certifications. While dubbed “Albania’s Formula 1 circuit,” Rama clarified that the core of the project is focused on infrastructure and safety, not racing glamour.

Why this is important: The Automotopark positions Elbasan—and Albania—as a regional leader in automotive innovation and motorsport infrastructure, while also advancing national road safety goals and local economic development.

Context: Speaking during an event with winners of Startup and Startup Grant 2024, Rama emphasized that the project goes beyond racing. He said the center is being developed in cooperation with Austrian experts behind similar successful models. The aim is to create a multifunctional space that combines training, technology, competition, and certification.

“This isn’t just a circuit for show,” Rama said. “It will be a space for safety, standards, and skills. From karting to motorcycles to vehicle testing—this is about long-term value, not spectacle.”

The Automotopark is being built along the Shkumbin River in Elbasan and is the first of its kind in Albania. It’s designed to host a range of motorsport events, serve as a training base, and function as a testing ground for future mobility solutions.

Rama underlined the need to create unique local models of testing and certification that Albania can eventually export to car manufacturers, saying, “We shouldn’t depend on outside expertise. We should be the ones setting the model.”

What else: The project is expected to become a key link between Albania’s growing startup sector and the future of transport tech. Rama invited young entrepreneurs to engage with the Automotopark as a space to innovate and collaborate on road safety and smart mobility.