New Connected and Automated Driving initiatives and technologies took centre stage as stakeholder and decisionmakers met to discuss the challenges and opportunities for testing and deployment of connectivity and automation in Europe.
The event, hosted by the Representation of the Free State of Bavaria to the EU, provided a unique opportunity to debate what future actions are needed in Europe to promote connected and automated driving (CAD) that translates into real benefits and real values, from industry, consumer and societal perspectives.
Gwenole Cozigou, Director for Industrial Transformation and Advanced Value Chains at DG GROW, addressed in his keynote the three pillars of the CAD Strategy currently being implemented by the European Commission, namely on infrastructure, safety and societal aspects of CAD.
Richard Cuerden, Director at TRL Academy, set the scene of the deployment of CAD in Europe while recognising how the technology will radically change the way people travel and move in cities. Cuerden also identified that further legislative harmonisation is needed in the fields of driver licencing, civil liability, insurance governance, privacy and data protection guidelines.
Maria Rautavirta, Director of Data Business Unit at the Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications, called on the importance of a human-centric CAD and the potential data has to generate value to the entire transport value chain.
A panel debate involved Claire Depré, from DG MOVE, Laurianne Krid, from FIA Region I, Paul Daman, from the BMW Group, Sigrid de Vries, from CLEPA and Fazilet Cinaralp, from ETRMA. Views included importance technology neutrality when deploying CAD, further legislative harmonisation, cybersecurity risks and the importance of ensuring access to vehicle-generated data. The stakeholders agreed that digitalisation in the transport sector should be seen a means for improved mobility in Europe.
In her closing remarks, Raluca Marian, Senior Adviser for Passenger Transport, IRU Permanent Delegation to the EU, drew the attention of the audience to the importance of continuing the discussion on vehicle-generated data as a step to fully embrace automation.