From experimentation to deployment at scale: what cities will need
In an interview with Mayors of Europe, PAVE Europe Managing Director Guido di Pasquale explains that while cities are increasingly prepared to host automated mobility services, moving from pilots to scaled deployment does still present some challenges.
Regulatory harmonisation, interoperable standards, and long-term collaboration between public authorities and industry are needed. One underestimated challenge is institutional readiness. Long-term deployment needs stable governance structures, operational planning and procurement models. Another challenge is the infrastructure and operational integration of automated services into existing mobility systems. The vision for Europe is not for automated vehicles operating in isolation but complementing public transport networks, shared mobility and urban planning strategies. Issues like insurance, liability frameworks, operational oversight, and data governance also need to be addressed.
No single actor can deliver automated mobility alone, it is a collective effort. Collaboration but also coordination is required across many actors, from authorities, operators and technology developers to regulators, insurers and research institutions. A key lesson from successful deployments is when cities act as conveners, bringing together said actors and communities, and ensuring that deployment remains aligned with public needs, accessibility for all and sustainability goals.
Successful models will likely include public-private partnerships, shared testbeds and regulatory sandboxes. EC’s initiative to support cross‑border testbeds for autonomous vehicles (AVs) is a step in the right direction. And finally, it is not just about technology, education and public engagement are equally important: to ensure that citizens understand how these technologies work, that they experience them, see them operating safely and delivering concrete benefits in order to build lasting trust.