diff --git a/documentation/docs/steps/batsExecuteTests.md b/documentation/docs/steps/batsExecuteTests.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8b4311831
--- /dev/null
+++ b/documentation/docs/steps/batsExecuteTests.md
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+# batsExecuteTests
+
+## Description
+
+This step executes tests using the [Bash Automated Testing System - bats-core](https://github.com/bats-core/bats-core)
+
+## Prerequsites
+
+You need to have a Bats test file. By default you would put this into directory `src/test` within your source code repository.
+
+## Parameters
+
+| parameter | mandatory | default | possible values |
+|-----------|-----------|---------|-----------------|
+| script | no | empty `globalPipelineEnvironment` |  |
+| dockerImage | no | `node:8-stretch` | |
+| dockerWorkspace | no |`/home/node`| |
+| envVars | no | `[:]` | |
+| failOnError | no | `false` | |
+| gitBranch | no | | |
+| gitSshKeyCredentialsId | no | | |
+| outputFormat | no | `junit` | `tap` |
+| repository | no | `https://github.com/bats-core/bats-core.git` | |
+| stashContent | no | `['tests']` | |
+| testPackage | no | `piper-bats` | |
+| testPath | no | `src/test`| |
+| testRepository | no | | |
+
+
+Details:
+
+* `outputFormat` defines the format of the test result output. `junit` would be the standard for automated build environments but you could use also the option `tap`.
+* For the transformation of the test result to xUnit format the node module **tap-xunit** is used. `dockerImage` and `dockerWorkspace` define the Docker image used for the transformation and `testPackage` defines the name of the test package used in the xUnit result file.
+* `testPath` defines either the directory which contains the test files (`*.bats`) or a single file. You can find further details in the [Bats-core documentation](https://github.com/bats-core/bats-core#usage)
+* With `failOnError` you can define the behavior, in case tests fail. For example, in case of `outputFormat: 'junit'` you should set it to `false`. Otherwise test results cannot be recorded using the `testsPublishhResults` step afterwards.
+* You can pass environment variables to the test execution by defining parameter `envVars`.
+
+    With `envVars` it is possible to pass either fixed values but also templates using [`commonPipelineEnvironment`](commonPipelineEnvironment.md).
+
+    Example:
+    ```
+    batsExecuteTests script: this, envVars = [
+      FIX_VALUE: 'my fixed value',
+      CONTAINER_NAME: '${commonPipelineEnvironment.configuration.steps.executeBatsTests.dockerContainerName}',
+      IMAGE_NAME: '${return commonPipelineEnvironment.getDockerImageNameAndTag()}'
+    ]
+    ```
+
+    This means within the test one could refer to environment variables by calling e.g.
+    `run docker run --rm -i --name $CONTAINER_NAME --entrypoint /bin/bash $IMAGE_NAME echo "Test"`
+
+* Using parameters `testRepository` the tests can be loaded from another reposirory. In case the tests are not located in the master branch the branch can be specified with `gitBranch`. For protected repositories you can also define the access credentials via `gitSshKeyCredentialsId`. **Note: In case of using a protected repository, `testRepository` should include the ssh link to the repository.**
+* The parameter `repository` defines the version of **bats-core** to be used. By default we use the version from the master branch.
+
+## Step configuration
+The following parameters can also be specified as step/stage/general parameters using the [global configuration](../configuration.md):
+
+* dockerImage
+* dockerWorkspace
+* envVars
+* failOnError
+* gitBranch
+* gitSshKeyCredentialsId
+* outputFormat
+* repository
+* stashContent
+* testPackage
+* testPath
+* testRepository
+
+
+## Example
+
+```groovy
+batsExecuteTests script:this
+testsPublishResults junit: [pattern: '**/Test-*.xml', archive: true]
+```
diff --git a/documentation/mkdocs.yml b/documentation/mkdocs.yml
index cbfa3d03d..3cd2f45ed 100644
--- a/documentation/mkdocs.yml
+++ b/documentation/mkdocs.yml
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ pages:
     - Configuration: configuration.md
     - 'Library steps':
         - artifactSetVersion: steps/artifactSetVersion.md
+        - batsExecuteTests: steps/batsExecuteTests.md
         - checkChangeInDevelopment: steps/checkChangeInDevelopment.md
         - cloudFoundryDeploy: steps/cloudFoundryDeploy.md
         - commonPipelineEnvironment: steps/commonPipelineEnvironment.md
diff --git a/resources/default_pipeline_environment.yml b/resources/default_pipeline_environment.yml
index b5d141bb1..3070a3cde 100644
--- a/resources/default_pipeline_environment.yml
+++ b/resources/default_pipeline_environment.yml
@@ -42,6 +42,17 @@ steps:
     sbt:
       filePath: 'sbtDescriptor.json'
       versioningTemplate: '${version}-${timestamp}${commitId?"+"+commitId:""}'
+  batsExecuteTests:
+    dockerImage: 'node:8-stretch'
+    dockerWorkspace: '/home/node'
+    envVars: {}
+    outputFormat: 'junit' # tap, junit
+    testPath: 'src/test'
+    failOnError: false
+    repository: 'https://github.com/bats-core/bats-core.git'
+    stashContent:
+      - 'tests'
+    testPackage: 'piper-bats'
   checksPublishResults:
     aggregation:
       active: true
diff --git a/test/groovy/BatsExecuteTestsTest.groovy b/test/groovy/BatsExecuteTestsTest.groovy
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..004475757
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/groovy/BatsExecuteTestsTest.groovy
@@ -0,0 +1,143 @@
+import org.junit.Before
+import org.junit.Rule
+import org.junit.Test
+import org.junit.rules.ExpectedException
+import org.junit.rules.RuleChain
+import util.*
+
+import static org.hamcrest.Matchers.hasItem
+import static org.hamcrest.Matchers.is
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertThat
+
+class BatsExecuteTestsTest extends BasePiperTest {
+
+    private ExpectedException thrown = ExpectedException.none()
+    private JenkinsStepRule jsr = new JenkinsStepRule(this)
+    private JenkinsLoggingRule jlr = new JenkinsLoggingRule(this)
+    private JenkinsShellCallRule jscr = new JenkinsShellCallRule(this)
+    private JenkinsDockerExecuteRule jder = new JenkinsDockerExecuteRule(this)
+
+    @Rule
+    public RuleChain rules = Rules
+        .getCommonRules(this)
+        .around(thrown)
+        .around(jder)
+        .around(jscr)
+        .around(jlr)
+        .around(jsr)
+
+    List withEnvArgs = []
+
+    @Before
+    void init() throws Exception {
+        helper.registerAllowedMethod("withEnv", [List.class, Closure.class], {arguments, closure ->
+            arguments.each {arg ->
+                withEnvArgs.add(arg.toString())
+            }
+            return closure()
+        })
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void testDefault() {
+        nullScript.commonPipelineEnvironment.configuration = [general: [container: 'test-container']]
+        jsr.step.batsExecuteTests(
+            script: nullScript,
+            juStabUtils: utils,
+            dockerContainerName: 'test-container',
+            dockerImageNameAndTag: 'test/image',
+            envVars: [
+                IMAGE_NAME: 'test/image',
+                CONTAINER_NAME: '${commonPipelineEnvironment.configuration.general.container}'
+            ],
+            testPackage: 'testPackage'
+        )
+        // asserts
+        assertThat(withEnvArgs, hasItem('IMAGE_NAME=test/image'))
+        assertThat(withEnvArgs, hasItem('CONTAINER_NAME=test-container'))
+        assertThat(jscr.shell, hasItem('git clone https://github.com/bats-core/bats-core.git'))
+        assertThat(jscr.shell, hasItem('bats-core/bin/bats --recursive --tap src/test > \'TEST-testPackage.tap\''))
+        assertThat(jscr.shell, hasItem('cat \'TEST-testPackage.tap\''))
+
+        assertThat(jder.dockerParams.dockerImage, is('node:8-stretch'))
+        assertThat(jder.dockerParams.dockerWorkspace, is('/home/node'))
+
+        assertThat(jscr.shell, hasItem('npm install tap-xunit -g'))
+        assertThat(jscr.shell, hasItem('cat \'TEST-testPackage.tap\' | tap-xunit --package=\'testPackage\' > TEST-testPackage.xml'))
+
+        assertJobStatusSuccess()
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void testTap() {
+        jsr.step.batsExecuteTests(
+            script: nullScript,
+            juStabUtils: utils,
+            outputFormat: 'tap'
+        )
+        assertThat(jder.dockerParams.size(), is(0))
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void testFailOnError() {
+        helper.registerAllowedMethod('sh', [String.class], {s ->
+            if (s.startsWith('bats-core/bin/bats')) {
+                throw new Exception('Shell call failed')
+            } else {
+                return null
+            }
+        })
+        thrown.expectMessage('Shell call failed')
+        jsr.step.batsExecuteTests(
+            script: nullScript,
+            juStabUtils: utils,
+            failOnError: true,
+        )
+
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void testGit() {
+        def gitRepository
+        helper.registerAllowedMethod('git', [Map.class], {m ->
+            gitRepository = m
+        })
+        helper.registerAllowedMethod('stash', [String.class], {s ->
+            assertThat(s, is('batsTests'))
+        })
+
+        jsr.step.batsExecuteTests(
+            script: nullScript,
+            juStabUtils: utils,
+            testRepository: 'testRepo',
+        )
+
+        assertThat(gitRepository.size(), is(1))
+        assertThat(gitRepository.url, is('testRepo'))
+        assertThat(jder.dockerParams.stashContent, hasItem('batsTests'))
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void testGitBranchAndCredentials() {
+        def gitRepository
+        helper.registerAllowedMethod('git', [Map.class], {m ->
+            gitRepository = m
+        })
+        helper.registerAllowedMethod('stash', [String.class], {s ->
+            assertThat(s, is('batsTests'))
+        })
+
+        jsr.step.batsExecuteTests(
+            script: nullScript,
+            juStabUtils: utils,
+            gitBranch: 'test',
+            gitSshKeyCredentialsId: 'testCredentials',
+            testRepository: 'testRepo',
+        )
+        assertThat(gitRepository.size(), is(3))
+        assertThat(gitRepository.credentialsId, is('testCredentials'))
+        assertThat(gitRepository.branch, is('test'))
+    }
+
+
+}
diff --git a/vars/batsExecuteTests.groovy b/vars/batsExecuteTests.groovy
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c9bf894bd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vars/batsExecuteTests.groovy
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+import com.sap.piper.Utils
+import com.sap.piper.ConfigurationHelper
+import groovy.text.SimpleTemplateEngine
+import groovy.transform.Field
+
+@Field String STEP_NAME = 'batsExecuteTests'
+@Field Set STEP_CONFIG_KEYS = [
+    'dockerImage', //
+    'dockerWorkspace',
+    'envVars',
+    'failOnError',
+    'gitBranch',
+    'gitSshKeyCredentialsId',
+    'outputFormat',
+    'repository',
+    'stashContent',
+    'testPackage',
+    'testPath',
+    'testRepository'
+]
+@Field Set PARAMETER_KEYS = STEP_CONFIG_KEYS
+
+def call(Map parameters = [:]) {
+    handlePipelineStepErrors (stepName: STEP_NAME, stepParameters: parameters) {
+
+        def utils = parameters.juStabUtils ?: new Utils()
+        def script = parameters.script ?: [commonPipelineEnvironment: commonPipelineEnvironment]
+
+        Map config = ConfigurationHelper
+            .loadStepDefaults(this)
+            .mixinGeneralConfig(script.commonPipelineEnvironment, STEP_CONFIG_KEYS)
+            .mixinStepConfig(script.commonPipelineEnvironment, STEP_CONFIG_KEYS)
+            .mixinStageConfig(script.commonPipelineEnvironment, parameters.stageName?:env.STAGE_NAME, STEP_CONFIG_KEYS)
+            .mixin(parameters, PARAMETER_KEYS)
+            .use()
+
+        // report to SWA
+        utils.pushToSWA([step: STEP_NAME], config)
+
+        script.commonPipelineEnvironment.setInfluxStepData('bats', false)
+
+
+        if (config.testRepository) {
+            def gitParameters = [url: config.testRepository]
+            if (config.gitSshKeyCredentialsId?.length()>0) gitParameters.credentialsId = config.gitSshKeyCredentialsId
+            if (config.gitBranch?.length()>0) gitParameters.branch = config.gitBranch
+            git gitParameters
+            stash 'batsTests'
+            config.stashContent = ['batsTests']
+        } else {
+            config.stashContent = utils.unstashAll(config.stashContent)
+        }
+
+        //resolve commonPipelineEnvironment references in envVars
+        config.envVarList = []
+        config.envVars.each {e ->
+            def envValue = SimpleTemplateEngine.newInstance().createTemplate(e.getValue()).make(commonPipelineEnvironment: script.commonPipelineEnvironment).toString()
+            config.envVarList.add("${e.getKey()}=${envValue}")
+        }
+
+        withEnv(config.envVarList) {
+            sh "git clone ${config.repository}"
+            try {
+                sh "bats-core/bin/bats --recursive --tap ${config.testPath} > 'TEST-${config.testPackage}.tap'"
+                script.commonPipelineEnvironment.setInfluxStepData('bats', true)
+            } catch (err) {
+                echo "[${STEP_NAME}] One or more tests failed"
+                if (config.failOnError) throw err
+            } finally {
+                sh "cat 'TEST-${config.testPackage}.tap'"
+                if (config.outputFormat == 'junit') {
+                    dockerExecute(dockerImage: config.dockerImage, dockerWorkspace: config.dockerWorkspace, stashContent: config.stashContent) {
+                        sh "npm install tap-xunit -g"
+                        sh "cat 'TEST-${config.testPackage}.tap' | tap-xunit --package='${config.testPackage}' > TEST-${config.testPackage}.xml"
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/vars/commonPipelineEnvironment.groovy b/vars/commonPipelineEnvironment.groovy
index cb9634b79..eade1b078 100644
--- a/vars/commonPipelineEnvironment.groovy
+++ b/vars/commonPipelineEnvironment.groovy
@@ -96,6 +96,14 @@ class commonPipelineEnvironment implements Serializable {
         return influxCustomDataMap
     }
 
+    def setInfluxStepData (dataKey, value) {
+        influxCustomDataMap.step_data[dataKey] = value
+    }
+    def getInfluxStepData (dataKey) {
+        return influxCustomDataMap.step_data[dataKey]
+    }
+
+
     def getMtarFilePath() {
         return mtarFilePath
     }