Jaguar Land Rover has quietly started testing driverless cars on British roads that are simultaneously being used by the general public, in a clear indication that Britain’s biggest manufacturer is determined the country will play a leading role in the race to develop autonomous vehicles.

Coventry-based JLR has been putting its computer-controlled vehicles through their paces on the streets of its home town for several weeks.

This is the first time a UK-based manufacturer has unleashed such technology on the open road. Driverless cars have previously been confined to closed roads and tracks or only used on open roads for short demonstration periods.

Ralf Speth, chief executive of JLR, said: “We stand on the brink of a mobility revolution. The impact of the changes we are about to embrace will be huge across all sectors of the UK economy.

“The opportunities are great: this mobility revolution will change lives profoundly.”