The real financial and social impact of autonomous driving vehicles on European roads has been revealed for the first time, as Nissan unveils one of the most comprehensive studies ever compiled on the subject.
The independent report Freeing the Road – Shaping the future for autonomous vehicles, by think-tank Policy Network, was commissioned by Nissan Europe to analyze both the social and economic opportunities offered by autonomous driving technologies. The report also highlights the key steps that need to be taken by governments and regulators to overcome technological and social challenges of autonomous drive. Focusing on Germany, Spain and the UK, the report highlights crucial features of the policy debate around autonomous vehicles, and assesses the likely economic impact for the region.
The independent economic analysis shows that autonomous vehicles will start adding 0.15% to Europe’s annual growth rate in the decades to come. As a result, the European Union’s gross domestic product (GDP) will, cumulatively, be 5.3% higher in the year 2050 than currently, by which time autonomous vehicles will have contributed a total of €17tn (US$18tn) to GDP.
“This independent report highlights that we are in the midst of a social and economic revolution,” said Paul Willcox, chairman of Nissan Europe. “It shows that autonomous technology will have a fundamental impact, not just on the automotive industry, but across European economies and societies, and it suggests that leadership within all levels of government is needed. At Nissan, we believe, for the full benefits of autonomous drive technologies to be realized, governments and municipalities across Europe should review the report’s findings, work hand in hand with the automotive industry, and play a vital role in ushering in this new technological era.”
Supporting the independent report is a comprehensive pan-European consumer study conducted for Nissan, which has identified what people see as the main benefits of autonomous driving. The Nissan Social Index – Consumer attitudes to autonomous driving study, surveyed 6,000 adults across six European countries and found:
• Improved mobility is considered one of the biggest advantages of autonomous cars (58%);
• 52% said the biggest positive impact on society would be a reduction in accidents caused by human error, followed by removing unsafe/poor drivers from the road (43%);
• Fewer car accidents and lower stress levels were rated equally as the top health benefits (56%);
• 81% claim to have multi-tasked while driving, showing that the main lifestyle benefit of autonomous cars is the ability to do something other than driving when in the car (50%);
• 23% of those who plan to buy a car in five or more years would consider buying an autonomous car.
Willcox commented, “What’s clear from this research is that political decisions makers across Europe need to prioritize autonomous vehicle policies to create a favorable environment that will see this technology flourish. The customers want it, and are starting to see the benefits of an autonomous future, but we need the right legislative environment to enable this exciting new era of mobility to thrive.”
