Technology can take over an increasing amount of tasks when it comes to driving a vehicle – like braking or steering. The European Union is currently implementing and possibly reviewing some aspects of its regulation in the field of automated, connected and also self-driving vehicles, while vehicle manufacturers are increasingly putting more models on the market.
To help guide EU decision-making in this field, Prof. Dr. Michael Botsch and Prof. Dr. Werner Huber of the Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt (Germany) have written a study on the future of automated vehicles in the EU. They assessed technological advancements and regulation: the study highlights Europe’s strengths in regulatory frameworks, safety validation and system integration, while addressing challenges such as technological dependencies and the need for strategic R&D investment.
The ESMH spoke with Prof. Dr. Botsch and Prof. Dr. Huber ahead of the upcoming STOA workshop ‘Autonomous Vehicles in the EU – Deployment and impacts’ in the European Parliament on 21 April 2026, where the study and its conclusions will be presented.
Why is it important to consider the impact of the deployment of automated vehicles (AVs) in Europe?
Michael Botsch: I think there are very few people who’d disagree with the statement that AVs will become an integral part of transportation. The technology is already there. The process has already started, and we need to accept that AVs will be a part of our daily reality. Because of this, we need to manage the process actively. We can’t just let it happen.
You are the authors of the STOA study “Expected Impact of the Deployment of Automated Vehicles in the EU”. How and why was the study conducted and what main aspects did it consider?
Michael Botsch: In 2022, the EU implemented the new regulation on Automated Driving Systems (ADS). This legislative framework is therefore quite new, but the technological development is happening very fast. It’s necessary to evaluate the effects of the fast technological development and to ensure that the legislation is still where the policy makers want it to be.
Werner Huber: In the study, we have analysed specific key technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Software-Defined Vehicles and Intelligent Infrastructure, as they are the decisive factors driving the adoption of automated vehicles. We have developed three clearly defined scenarios to illustrate different paths for Europe’s role in the global introduction of AVs.
The study states that “the deployment of Automated Vehicles (AVs) has the potential to reshape not only transportation systems, but also industrial competitiveness, research priorities, and social structures.” What possible impact do you foresee – especially regarding industrial competitiveness and social structures?
Werner Huber: The different scenarios clearly show that Europe’s industrial competitiveness depends directly on how consistently we build up our technological capabilities.
In the best-case scenario, the EU becomes a world leader in the AVs technology, and this would naturally have a very positive impact on EU’s industry. This scenario, however, might not be realistic. According to the majority of experts, the most realistic for Europe is to maintain excellence in selected domains but to remain dependent on foreign technologies in critical areas such as AI hardware or data infrastructure.
Michael Botsch: Industrial competitiveness is directly linked to technological capabilities. In other words, we have concluded that, in terms of regulation, the EU is already operating at a very strong level. However, when it comes to technology, there are still issues that need to be evaluated and decided. To shape the development of AVs, we need the technological capability.
On a social level, autonomous driving could be not only more comfortable, but also safer. Moreover, it could change the job market. For instance, there are currently not enough drivers, and this technology could directly solve that. It would also give people who are not mobile the possibility to be mobile. There is a societal need for this technology and there is a high potential for people to profit from it.
One of the study’s main conclusions is that “Europe should also identify and gain sovereignty over a defined set of critical technologies”. What are these technologies and why is it so essential for Europe to focus on them?
Michael Botsch: It is difficult to define these critical technologies. To answer this question, we need more focused and more in-depth studies. That is, in fact, the crucial point of the study: that we need to investigate this topic more in-depth. At the regulatory level, we are a global leader. What needs to be done now is to define and prioritise technological competences.
Werner Huber: Another important conclusion of the study is that we need a common European framework for AVs. This framework must be consistent enough to prevent fragmentation, yet flexible enough to take national specificities into account. Europe is already on the right track in this regard. However, if we do not act quickly enough, there is a real risk that regulatory differences will emerge and hinder the Europe-wide scaling of solutions.
Useful link:
• Event on 21 April: STOA workshop “Autonomous Vehicles in the EU – Deployment and impacts” in the European Parliament