Advancing CCAM readiness from pilots to deployment

At the ITS European Congress in Istanbul, Special Interest Session 52 delivered a clear message: Europe has already built strong momentum in Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility (CCAM) innovation, but successful deployment now depends on readiness across the wider ecosystem. Moderated by Stéphane Dreher (ERTICO), the session examined how cities, operators, industry, public authorities and citizens can move from fragmented demonstrations towards practical, scalable services.

The discussion centred on a shared challenge. While CCAM technologies continue to mature, implementation remains uneven across Europe and is still too often confined to pilot environments. As several speakers underlined, deployment requires more than vehicle performance alone. It is particularly dependent on regulation, but further to that infrastructure, governance, operational models, public acceptance and workforce preparedness.

The CCAMbassador project, presented by Laura Babio Somoza, focuses on preparing stakeholders for deployment rather than treating technology as the only measure of progress. The project addresses two connected dimensions: the readiness of implementers and the awareness of citizens and users. Its approach helps cities and regions identify gaps, understand different starting points and shape targeted capacity-building actions.

CCAMbassador’s work is especially relevant because readiness is not linear and does not look the same for every stakeholder. A city authority, a public transport operator and local communities may each face different barriers. To reflect this, the project has developed deployment profiles ranging from Exploratory and Strategic to Operational, Technically Advanced and Integrated & Mature. This offers a practical framework for moving beyond pilots and aligning demonstration activities with real-world deployment conditions.

The session also highlighted the importance of public trust and inclusion. Matthew Shelton presented the CulturalRoad project, which is developing new guidelines for CCAM deployment across Europe through a participatory, bottom-up methodology. Its emphasis on involving citizens and local stakeholders is designed to ensure that deployment reflects Europe’s cultural and geographic diversity. A notable element is its Five-Pointed Star Rating System, created to assess the “mobility equity” of CCAM services and support fair, accessible deployment.

This perspective was illustrated through experience in the West Midlands, where local authorities are considering how automated mobility can strengthen, rather than undermine, public transport objectives. The public sector case is clear: CCAM should supplement, not substitute existing networks, with particular value in first- and last-mile connections, better access for harder-to-reach communities, lower congestion and reduced emissions in line with regional transport plans.

Practical deployment lessons were further reinforced by Sven Maerivoet’s presentation on Leuven’s autonomous shuttle service. The project moved from a 12-month original lease for two shuttles to first driving on 10 September 2025, passenger operations on 22 January 2026, and an extension granted until June 2027. Operated on the former Line 16 corridor, the service demonstrates that deployment is possible in a live public transport setting, even if certification, validation and permitting remain lengthy and fragmented across Member States.

A recurring issue throughout the session was the business case for deployment. Speakers pointed to the need for a more workable model in which the cost of data provision does not sit disproportionately with road authorities. Instead, data responsibilities should be addressed through coordinated frameworks involving public authorities, OEMs and service providers. This is essential to reduce integration burdens, support interoperability and create conditions for wider market uptake.

Finally, Víctor Ferran highlighted findings from the RESKILLING project, which has identified 65 professional profiles linked to CCAM. The presentation showed that skills mismatches remain a tangible barrier to deployment, particularly as traditional training models struggle to keep pace with software, digital operations and cross-sector service delivery needs.

Taken together, the session showed that CCAM readiness is now a strategic priority for Europe. Under Stéphane Dreher’s moderation, the discussion reflected ERTICO’s role in connecting stakeholders, structuring dialogue and advancing innovation for tomorrow’s journey through practical, collaborative and deployment-focused action.

Moderator

• Stéphane Dreher

Speakers

• Sven MAERIVOET, Belgium
• Víctor FERRAN, Spain
• Matthew SHELTON, United Kingdom
• Carolin ZACHÄUS, Germany
• Laura BABIO SOMOZA, Belgium