"we'll start seeing this technology rolled out."
Tesla is making a significant push to gain legal approval for its driverless cars in both the UK and Europe.
This effort includes a proactive engagement with regulatory bodies, signalling Elon Musk’s strong belief in autonomous driving as the linchpin of Tesla’s future success.
In a recent development, Tesla showcased its “full self-driving” (FSD) technology to officials on European roads during a safety conference held in Munich.
Attendees were taken on test drives to demonstrate the capabilities of the system firsthand.
Moreover, Tesla is actively involved in updating United Nations regulations that govern advanced driver assistance systems.
These updates could potentially pave the way for legalising the technology across Europe by the end of the following year.
In December 2023, Transport Secretary Mark Harper said driverless cars could be on UK roads as early as 2026.
He said: “I think that’s when companies are expecting – in 2026, during that year – that we’ll start seeing this technology rolled out.”
Mr Harper said the innovation has “a huge number of potential uses”, including bolstering road safety and making it easier for disabled people to travel independently.
The Automated Vehicles Bill, which lays out a set of laws for using autonomous vehicles, was introduced into parliament in November, and the minister hopes it will pass through both Houses by the end of 2024.
Mr Harper said it was clear the self-driving technology works from a roll-out in California, where cars “without a safety driver, so in full, autonomous mode” are already on the roads.
He said: “This technology exists, it works and what we’re doing is putting in place the proper legislation so that people can have full confidence in the safety of this technology, which I think is one of the important things we’ve got to do.”
Mr Harper also claimed autonomous driving “will actually improve road safety” in the UK.
The minister said: “We already have a very good road safety record in Britain but there are still several thousand people a year killed on our roads.
“That could be improved.
“The final thing is, there are a lot of people who currently don’t have the opportunity to get the freedom that many of us drivers take for granted.
“For example, there are people who have disabilities, people with learning disabilities, who don’t have the same freedom that driving brings the rest of us.
“This potentially opens up a whole new world for personal freedom, getting to work, having the ability to not have to rely on other people.”
At a conference hosted by Euro NCAP, a safety ratings organisation supported by government agencies like the Department of Transport, Tesla conducted a demonstration specifically for officials.
One of the attendees noted that this was the first time Tesla had exhibited its technology in Europe, albeit limited to a few select roads.
Elon Musk’s strategic focus on autonomous driving stems from a larger strategy to bolster Tesla’s revenues.
This move comes at a time when the company is facing challenges such as declining car sales, attributed to an overall decrease in demand for electric vehicles and increased competition from Chinese manufacturers.
Driverless cars can stop at traffic lights, change lanes automatically and navigate junctions.
Despite its name, the technology requires constant supervision from the driver, positioning it as what experts term a “Level 2 plus” automated driving system.
This level falls short of the coveted “Level 5,” where a vehicle could autonomously navigate without human intervention.
Watch a Self-Driven Tesla being Tested on US Roads
For the UK and EU member states to legalise this system, amendments to United Nations regulations governing “driver-controlled assistance systems” are imperative.
A dedicated task force is currently underway, with the aim of revising these regulations by September of the following year, as indicated by meeting documents.
Tesla’s head of global policy, Marc Van Impe, is representing the automotive industry on this task force, showcasing a notable level of commitment from the company.
This engagement underscores Tesla’s proactive stance in shaping regulatory frameworks.
Elon Musk recently secured tentative approval to introduce Tesla’s FSD system in China, a development that bolstered the company’s stock performance.
Despite being offered as an optional feature for several years, Tesla has been charging buyers an additional fee for cars equipped with “full self-driving capability,” even though the technology remains unavailable outside the US.
Presently, this package comes with a price tag of £6,800 in the UK.
Mr Musk has acknowledged that the rollout of FSD technology might face delays in countries where vehicles drive on the left-hand side of the road, implying a longer timeline for its introduction in such regions.
Meanwhile, the UK is finalising legislation concerning fully driverless cars, a process currently in the advanced stages of parliamentary review.
These laws might impose restrictions on Tesla’s ability to market its FSD system as fully autonomous.
Elon Musk has hinted at the unveiling of a fully autonomous “robotaxi” or “Cybercab” in August 2024, suggesting a futuristic concept devoid of traditional driving controls like steering wheels or pedals.