Robots powered by 5G could be used to build the cars of tomorrow even faster as Audi begins testing the technology in one of its production plants.

The premium car maker has announced that it is working with Ericsson on a fully networked factory in its homeland Germany, in a bid to keep up with high demand.

Experts from both companies will begin tests in a technical centre at the Audi Production Lab in Gaimersheim within the coming months, to see how the advantages of 5G could be used in factories.

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5G is the next-generation of mobile communications which uses ultra-low latency, meaning machines and systems will be able to respond to each other much faster than existing networks permit.

The first phase of the project will see whether 5G can be used to improve the work of wirelessly connected production robots that are equipped with a gluing application.

Audi chief information officer Frank Loydl said: “The fully networked factory will have a significant impact on the production of the future.

“A powerful network architecture that can respond in real time is of decisive importance for us.”

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Ericsson’s chief technology officer Erik Ekudden added:

Ericsson is already running 5G industry programmes all over the world to help manufacturers boost productivity and create new business opportunities.

“This project is a great opportunity to see what is possible when we bring 5G into an automobile production environment to truly enable smart wireless manufacturing.”

The news comes after Audi recently revealed it is collaborating with Chinese smartphone giant Huawei, on the development of technology for intelligent connected cars.