Level 5 autonomy: The new face of disruption in road transport

By 2020, the EU road transport sector is poised to deploy a host of advanced Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), including connected and autonomous vehicles (AVs), that are expected to significantly 'disrupt' the automotive sector. This vision of the future is fuelling a virtual 'arms race' among automakers (OEMs), who are forging unconventional alliances and investing heavily in R&D, in anticipation of a radically changed industry. Car travel seems set to undergo a paradigm shift, evolving from a privately-owned asset into mobility as a service; a metamorphosis that will have significant implications for policymakers and industry stakeholders alike. This paper therefore seeks to address existing gaps in knowledge, by using primary qualitative interview data from industry experts and policymakers to examine the early-stages of the AV transition within the EU automotive industry. This paper also assesses the major policy challenges that face industry regulators tasked with underwriting this radical and dynamic transition to autonomous driving. This paper's focus is on the sociotechnical transition to AVs, which contributes to better understandings about the future role and regulation of Intelligent Transport Systems in society.