EATA calls for improved CAV policies in Europe

3 April 2019

Europe could be a global leader in connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV) if it steps up efforts following the upcoming European Parliament elections.

With the voting expected to result in new commissioners being be appointed to top roles within the EU structure, the European Automotive and Telecoms Alliance (EATA) has made the call for a new, digitally-driven mobility ecosystem to be created in the EU. Safer and cleaner cars moving smoothly across Europe, less congested cities, increased productivity in the logistics sector, and self-driving vehicles making lives easier are just some of the things we can expect.

Carmakers and technology companies are working on launching new products and services in the automotive and logistics sectors. Car ownership models are expected to change in the future and mobility services are therefore a key growth area. Such services will benefit from autonomous and connected technologies. Additionally, carmakers are looking to increase in-vehicle connectivity to add more services for their customers.

In this context, EATA has just launched its manifesto to accelerate the deployment of connected and automated mobility (CAM) in Europe. In the manifesto, four enabling principles for creating the right policy environment are central:

• Enable a clear framework aimed at fostering investment and innovation;
• Avoid fragmentation through coordination of policy initiatives;
• Recognise that technology neutrality is critical to the development of connected and automated mobility;
• Accelerate cooperation on the global stage.

Similarly, it will also be of particular importance to ensure that Europe develops a globally competitive digital infrastructure, which is a key enabler of CAM.

′The regulatory environment today is very different from the past when policies were seen in a more isolated way. That is, automotive from a technical, product regulation point of view and telecoms from a service point of view,’ explained Erik Jonnaert, EATA chairman and Secretary General of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA). Jonnaert also comments that ′We are calling upon the next European Commission and Parliament to put in place a coordinated and consistent legal framework to remove remaining legal and regulatory barriers to CAM.’

Afke Schaart, EATA Vice-chairman and Vice President & Head of Europe at the GSMA (representing mobile operators worldwide and the broader mobile ecosystem) added: ′With the manifesto that we present today, we do not just formulate our common vision on the deployment of connected and automated driving in Europe. It is also an expression of an unprecedented collaboration between the two industries to bring Europe’s transport system to a higher, and safer, level in the next years.’

EATA says that embracing these principles will be particularly important from a societal viewpoint as connected and automated mobility can significantly contribute to creating new growth opportunities for Europe and help the EU economy transition to a more environmentally sustainable model.