Foreword, World Economic Forum White Paper: Integrating Autonomous Mobility into the Transport System: A Saudi Arabian Case Study, August 2024
As we navigate through the advancements of the 21st century, integrating autonomous mobility into our global transport systems stands out as a pivotal development. According to McKinsey, advances in autonomous driving, electrification, connectivity and shared mobility are projected to drive significant growth. This transformative potential underscores the impact autonomous mobility is poised to have on the transport sector, enhancing safety, reliability and efficiency in the movement of people and goods. As the need for cohesive and innovative strategies is more pressing than ever, this white paper aims to offer a framework to support these efforts, with Saudi Arabia serving as a key case study.
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 is a bold and ambitious strategy designed to diversify the nation’s economy and elevate the public service sectors, with a significant emphasis on transport infrastructure. The Vision’s detailed strategies, including the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS) and the Autonomous Mobility Strategy (AMS), aim to position Saudi Arabia as a global logistics hub and a leader in autonomous mobility.
The global landscape provides valuable lessons on the transformation of the mobility sector. Cities in the United States, Europe and Asia serve as benchmarks, having made significant advances in autonomous vehicle testing and deployment. However, several challenges remain when it comes to large-scale deployment, and it is essential that the implementation of these technologies is part of a long-term policy vision with clear objectives. The framework proposed in this paper seeks to address these challenges through a unified approach, integrating regulatory sandboxes with autonomous mobility testing environments and including a feedback loop. This will help create a seamless connection between regulation and deployment, fostering collaboration and minimizing redundancy, such as duplicated autonomous testing efforts and inefficient use of resources.
With: Basma AlBuhairan, Managing Director, Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Saudi Arabia
Image: AbsolutVision/Unsplash
