Embracing the future of mobility: a strategy for autonomous driving in the EU

Executive summary

Advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicles (AVs) hold immense potential to deliver a wide range of societal benefits to Europe. Chief amongst these is improved road safety, reduced congestion and emissions, and enhanced mobility for people with disabilities. In addition, autonomous driving and ADAS represent key future technologies that will underpin the global competitiveness of Europe’s automotive sector, unlocking new jobs and important markets.

DIGITALEUROPE welcomes the recognition of these technologies in the EU’s Industrial Action Plan for the Automotive Sector. Nevertheless, substantial barriers are to be overcome if the EU wants European citizens and cities to benefit this innovation at scale.

To that end, it is crucial that policymakers take regulatory simplification and coherence across Member States seriously to ensure faster deployment and commercial viability. The following points must be pursued:

• Develop a renewed Strategy on Automated Mobility to identify legislative barriers and propose concrete, actionable solutions to enable (easier) deployment of AVs and ADAS across the EU.
• Introduce harmonised rules for public road testing and deployment.
• Establish unlimited series approvals for automated parking systems in 2025, followed by all the use cases regulated under Regulation (EU) 2022/1426 by 2026.
• Set up an expert taskforce to assess and streamline EU technology regulations affecting AVs and ADAS technologies. Allow a broad range of stakeholders and expertise to help shape the European Connected and Autonomous Alliance.
• Allow a broad range of stakeholders and expertise to help shape the
  European Connected and Autonomous Alliance.