Interreg project NEXT RIDE recently published a study on the global and European Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) landscape, tailored specifically to the needs of the public transport sector. The study examines where AV deployment has moved beyond experimentation to identify governance choices, service models, procurement implications and regulatory conditions relevant for the European Public Transport landscape. Its goal is to help Public Transport Authorities and Operators make more informed decisions about the role of AVs in their networks, and under which institutional, operational and commercial conditions.

The study includes a global overview of autonomous vehicle deployment trends, an analysis of five emerging operating models for public transport, and a review of Europe’s most relevant AV passenger deployments. It also examines the evolving regulatory landscape, presents country-specific policy snapshots, and highlights lessons from leading European AV ecosystems to support public transport authorities and operators in preparing for future deployment.

Some highlights

• Autonomous vehicles are no longer a future concept—the key question is how they should be integrated into public transport.
• For Public Transport Authorities and Operators, AV strategies should start with mobility needs and service objectives, not the technology itself.
• Successful AV deployment depends as much on governance, procurement, and regulation as on technological readiness.
• European frontrunners show that proactive public leadership is essential to scale autonomous mobility effectively.
• This is the time for Public Transport Authorities and Operators to move strategically and prepare the policy, contractual, and organisational foundations for future AV services.