Automated driving: EU auto makers publish ‘check-list’ for policy makers

Brussels, 3 December 2019 – As part of its vision to make road transport smarter and more convenient, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has drawn up a check-list of rules and regulations that need to be put in place to make automated driving a reality in the EU.

“Automated driving is a paradigm shift that will change how we travel and transport goods in Europe,” stated ACEA Director General, Eric-Mark Huitema. “It is totally reshaping the future of mobility. It holds great potential to improve road safety, enhance social inclusion by making transport more accessible, ease traffic congestion and reduce emissions – not to mention to give drivers more freedom and comfort.”

With the new European Commission and Parliament now ready for their term of office, ACEA wants to further engage in a dialogue with all stakeholders who have a role to play in the gradual transition to fully autonomous driving.

To mark the launch of this dialogue, ACEA published its ‘Roadmap for the Deployment of Automated Driving in the European Union’ today. This roadmap contains a check-list for policy makers which details the legislative framework that must be put in place at the national, EU and international levels, as well as a timeline outlining the steps towards deployment that must be undertaken over the coming decades.

In addition to setting the right legal framework, policy makers must upgrade Europe’s physical and digital road infrastructure to make it suitable for automated driving.  They should also continue to perform large-scale and cross-border testing of automated systems on open roads across the EU, ACEA says.

Huitema: “Automated driving will bring massive changes, so it is crucial to ensure that society at large is ready for it. We must now work towards raising awareness amongst citizens – and their elected representatives – of what all this means.”

As a contribution to this goal, the new ACEA publication explains clearly and visually the terminology, benefits and implications of automated driving, as well as the R&D focus areas of this new ecosystem.


Notes for editors

About ACEA

  • The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) represents the 14 major Europe-based car, van, truck and bus makers: BMW Group, DAF Trucks, Daimler Truck, Ferrari, Ford of Europe, Honda Motor Europe, Hyundai Motor Europe, Iveco Group, JLR, Mercedes-Benz, Renault Group, Toyota Motor Europe, Volkswagen Group, and Volvo Group.
  • Visit www.acea.auto for more information about ACEA, and follow us on www.twitter.com/ACEA_auto or www.linkedin.com/company/ACEA/.
  • Contact: Cara McLaughlin, Communications Director, cm@acea.auto, +32 485 88 66 47.

Interested in ACEA press releases?

Receive them directly in your inbox!


About the EU automobile industry

  • 13.0 million Europeans work in the automotive sector
  • 11.5% of all manufacturing jobs in the EU
  • €374.6 billion in tax revenue for European governments
  • €101.9 billion trade surplus for the European Union
  • Over 7% of EU GDP generated by the auto industry
  • €59.1 billion in R&D spending annually, 31% of EU total
Content type Press release
Vehicle types All vehicles
back to topback to top