Joint industry statement: powerful digital highways for Europe’s connected and automated driving.
Automated and connected driving will be a pillar of Europe’s industrial renaissance. The vehicle of the future is part of a connected world where superfast digital networks give access to communication, higher safety, improved environmental standards, entertainment, knowledge and personal contacts, to anyone, anywhere and at any time.
From both the societal and economic viewpoint the opportunity is vast. Connected and automated driving is expected to have a very significant economic impact: KPMG estimates an impact of €71bn by 2030 in the UK only (KPMG, 2015), while other studies point to a global market of 44 million automated vehicles by 2030 (BCG, 2015).
Positive societal benefits are anticipated, with researchers pointing to: new jobs across the automotive value chain; increased road safety and lower fatalities; increased fuel-efficiency and lower environmental impact; reduction of traffic congestion and higher comfort standards for users.
There are strategic challenges to Europe’s ability to implement connectivity and automation in all environments. The completion of a fully-implemented EU Digital Single Market and the deployment of high-speed broadband should be prioritised. At the same time, the whole European automotive sector needs to evolve at a fast pace. The ambition is to maintain and further develop Europe’s leading position in this field.
The European Union aims to increase the contribution made by manufacturing to GDP from 16% to 20% by 2020. Automated and connected driving will be a key driver of Europe’s re-industrialisation, thanks to sustained markets and technology leadership.
For this reason, the European automotive and telecom sectors, encouraged by Commissioner Oettinger, have come together to shape the debate by means of a structured “EU Industry Dialogue on automated and connected driving”.
The dialogue will concentrate on the following strategic objectives:
- Prioritising connectivity, network coverage & reliability;
- Facilitating take-up;
- Ensuring trust and security.
The industries will therefore identify areas requiring further cooperation, areas in which supportive public policies are needed and areas requiring regulatory intervention.
The kick-off meeting of the EU Industry Dialogue took place yesterday – 16 September – in Frankfurt, at the 66th International Motor Show, during a roundtable chaired by Günther Oettinger, European Commissioner for Digital economy and Society.
