Von der Leyen Pushes for European Unity in Self-Driving Car Race
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has urged a united European effort to advance self-driving car technology. She aims to boost the competitiveness of the European industry and keep pace with global leaders like China and the USA.
Von der Leyen's call comes as several European companies are already making strides in autonomous vehicles. WeRide, for instance, operates autonomous Robobus and Robotaxi services across Europe and is partnering with Renault Group to mass-produce autonomous Robobuses by 2030. Volkswagen, too, plans to launch its ID.Buzz AD Robotaxi from 2026. Meanwhile, XPeng is working on autonomous driving systems in Europe.
Von der Leyen wants to see these vehicles 'manufactured in Europe and designed for European roads'. She believes self-driving cars, already prevalent in the USA and China, should also become a reality in Europe. To achieve this, she advocates for an 'AI-first' strategy in strategic industries, starting with mobility.
Von der Leyen's proposal has already garnered interest from 60 Italian mayors, who have expressed willingness to participate in pilot projects. She envisions a network of European cities testing autonomous vehicles, marking a significant step towards making self-driving cars a common sight on European roads.
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