The company, whose research on robotic vehicles includes technology, players and solutions, impact and benefits, says the disruptive effects of autonomous driving are only just being discovered and its transformative impact on the auto industry and society as a whole will be huge with car sharing and declining vehicle ownership being two of its main exponents.

“While the technological feasibility of autonomous vehicles is being demonstrated by Google, Audi, Volvo, Bosch, and Continental, obstacles such as high costs and lack of legislation remain. On the other hand, the benefits of autonomous vehicles in terms of safety, cost savings, efficiency, and positive impact on the economy, are driving research and development efforts globally. With ADAS-type assistance features already being implemented on a wide scale, the next phase of autonomous Co-Pilot type vehicles will materialise in this decade,” said VP and practice director Dominique Bonte.

The company adds that the current focus on passive safety functionality will become less relevant as the gradual move towards active safety and automation renders driver-centric features at least partially redundant. This will require changing attitudes from governments favoring V2X mandates and autonomous driving legislation and subsidisation over eCall mandates, HMI guidelines, and banning portable devices.