Is Europe prepared for autonomous vehicles?

      In a recent discussion with TNW, Jelle Prins, the creator of Uber’s first app, expressed his vision for a world transformed by autonomous vehicles. “Picture getting into a car in Amsterdam in the evening,” he contemplated, “and waking up the next day in a mountain village in France ready for a day of snowboarding.” He believes that self-driving technology represents the next phase in mobility's evolution, raising the question of when it will arrive in Europe rather than if it will arrive at all.

      He outlined his vision for this future — along with his plans to harness AI for designing proteins — in an episode of “Kia’s Next Big Drive” with TNW's founder, Boris Veldhuijzen van Zaten.

      You can view the complete interview by clicking below:

      The Kia EV9 discussed during the interview is categorized as a Level 2 autonomous vehicle, according to a 0-5 scale of driving automation. It employs Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), which allows the car to operate more autonomously by adjusting its speed to that of the vehicle ahead, although a human driver is still required. This is part of a gradual rollout of new adaptive technologies by car manufacturers, inching closer to Level 5 autonomous vehicles that do not need a driver at all.

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      While commercial deployments of AVs are progressing slowly, we anticipate a faster integration of AVs into public transport. As part of Horizon 2020, the European Commission is funding research initiatives for driverless public transport across the EU. However, the US, China, and more recently the UK, are significantly ahead in this area and gaining momentum.

      In the US, companies such as Waymo (Alphabet’s AV subsidiary) have already launched commercial robotaxi services in cities like Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin, with expansion plans for Atlanta, Miami, and Washington, DC by 2026. In China, Baidu has piloted its Apollo Go autonomous ride-hailing service in over 15 cities and aims to reach 100 cities by 2030.

      Even the UK, which is typically slower to embrace new mobility technologies, enacted a significant Automated Vehicles (AV) Act in 2024 to establish a cohesive legal framework. Pilot AV initiatives are planned for 2026, with Wayve and Uber preparing for trials.

      In contrast, the EU remains divided, facing challenges like inconsistent infrastructure, uneven 5G coverage, and a lack of a unified regulatory framework that could cause it to lag behind unless standards are harmonized and investment accelerated.

      How AVs could reshape our cities

      Envision the canals of Amsterdam devoid of parking spaces, instead adorned with trees, community gardens, and outdoor cafes. What if Barcelona’s concept of “superblocks,” which promotes traffic-restricted, pedestrian-friendly zones, could be implemented in cities like Paris and Berlin?

      AVs could significantly enhance these developments, making urban areas more livable and accessible.

      Living further from the city may become less problematic if commuting is integrated into your morning routine. Passengers could enjoy coffee, read, or work on their laptops with no need to focus on driving.

      AVs could interact and coordinate with smart city infrastructures, enabling real-time traffic management, which could result in optimized routing, reduced congestion, and smoother traffic flow. Some cities are already testing dynamic traffic lights that adapt to real-time traffic conditions using sensors, cameras, and algorithms.

      Is Europe prepared for an AV future?

      Not every consequence of AVs is beneficial. Similar to the emergence of Uber, an increase in automation could disrupt millions of jobs in transportation, impacting truck drivers, delivery personnel, and taxi operators.

      KPMG estimates suggest that AVs could reduce public transportation costs by up to 50%. Given that 600,000 people are employed in the transport and logistics sector in the Netherlands, the total loss of income could reach €14 billion annually if these jobs disappear. There is a need for reskilling programs for affected workers.

      AVs also bring ethical dilemmas. For instance, how should a vehicle make decisions between two negative outcomes during an unavoidable crash? Scholars are currently discussing how to ensure these intelligent systems align with human moral values.

      Cybersecurity presents another challenge. As vehicles become increasingly connected, they are also more susceptible to hacking, posing risks not just to passengers but to entire transportation networks. Recently, researchers created a hack called MadRadar that could bypass anti-spoofing measures, causing AVs to misinterpret their surroundings by "seeing" phantom vehicles.

      Infrastructure needs

      The future of autonomy depends on more than just software and sensors; it requires compatible road systems. A significant challenge is the inconsistency of signage and road standards across Europe. A 2023 literature review emphasizes that variations in sign design, language,