Autonomous vehicles (AVs) are the future of travel, poised to revolutionise transportation, with advancement in this area gaining significant traction. The journey towards this vision is gaining momentum, driven by government initiatives and collaborative efforts between industry giants and tech pioneers. Government policies are creating a favourable regulatory environment, and besides dynamic collaborations between industry leaders and technology innovators, we see a supportive eco-system growing.
Various partnerships are driving breakthroughs in AV technology, accelerating the journey towards a future where self-driving vehicles become a common reality on our roads.
The Indian government is taking proactive steps to facilitate this technological leap. In 2023, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) unveiled the Automated and Connected Vehicles (ACV) Regulation Guidelines, setting a clear framework for the testing and deployment of AVs in India. These guidelines are pivotal in steering the future of autonomous mobility, outlining stringent safety standards and data collection requirements to ensure the safe integration of AVs into our complex traffic ecosystem.
Safety and Trust: Building the Roadmap
The journey to integrating AVs into India’s intricate traffic tapestry is not without its hurdles. Safety is paramount. Indian consumers and regulators alike need to be assured that these vehicles can handle our unique driving conditions with reliability. According to a 2023 report by the National Road Safety Council, India has one of the highest road accident rates globally, with over 150,000 fatalities annually. Building trust in AVs will involve demonstrating their capability to navigate this high-risk environment safely, aligning with the MoRTH guidelines that emphasise rigorous safety assessments and real-world testing.
Synergy of Innovation
At the crossroads of automotive engineering and cutting-edge technology, the AV industry is a melting pot of innovation. Collaboration between traditional automakers and tech pioneers is crucial. This partnership will blend expertise in vehicle manufacturing with advancements in artificial intelligence and data analytics. In 2024, Tata Motors and Tech Mahindra announced a partnership to develop AV technologies tailored for Indian conditions, aligning with the MoRTH’s vision of fostering industry-academia collaboration to advance autonomous mobility.
Earlier this year, Swaayatt Robots, an Indian startups shared a video, where they had a sensor-laden SUV move through narrow and unmarked lanes, dodging animals and pedestrians on the streets, negotiating slow moving tractors and a number of scooters either overtaking or cutting across.
It is important to bear in mind that in India, there are additional challenges AV makers have to overcome that involve bad road conditions and erratic, unpredictable driver behaviour.
By 2025, we are likely to witness a surge in semi-autonomous features in Indian vehicles. Technologies such as self-parking systems and lane-keeping assistance, which are currently present in less than 5% of Indian cars, are expected to become more widespread.
Early Adoption and Commercial Fleets
Commercial fleets will likely be among the first to embrace higher levels of autonomous driving. For logistics and transportation companies, the potential for increased efficiency and reduced operational costs is too promising to ignore. A 2024 report by Deloitte estimates that AV technology could reduce operational costs for logistics companies by up to 30%.
Harnessing Data Analytics
Data analytics will play a pivotal role in crafting vehicles capable of navigating India’s diverse driving environments. Data will be required from the bustling streets of India’s metros and equally the tranquil byways of rural areas, thus, equipping AVs to handle a multitude of, mainly challenging and varying scenarios and road conditions. Additionally, this will all need to be mapped for AV technology to work efficiently. Unlike other countries that are early adopters of this tech, India’s diverse and challenging road conditions require AVs to be able to adapt to diverse conditions, The Indian government’s initiative to create a National Data Repository for vehicle data, in line with the MoRTH guidelines, aims to enhance the accuracy of AV navigation systems and support robust data collection and analysis.
Cultural Shift and Road Dynamics
The advent of autonomous vehicles will also prompt a cultural shift on Indian roads. As driverless and conventional vehicles share the lanes, all road users will need to adapt to new traffic patterns and interactions. This transition will require both education and patience as users begin to adjust to the new norms. The Road Safety and Traffic Management Authority, in conjunction with MoRTH, is working on public awareness campaigns to prepare road users for this change .
Insights from Global Leaders: Key Players Shaping the CAV Industry
As India charts its course in the autonomous vehicle landscape, there are valuable lessons to learn from countries that have already made their foray in this field. Ireland for e.g., has made significant strides in autonomous vehicle technology through the ecosystem it has nurtured, including the Future Mobility Campus Ireland (FMCI). The FMCI is not just a testbed but is one of the most established development centres for advancing future-driven innovations.
The FMCI facility focuses on comprehensive mobility technologies that span both ground and air use cases. On the ground, it encompasses autonomous driving, micro-mobility, smart cities, and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications. In the air, it covers unmanned drones, electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, advanced air mobility (AAM), and unmanned traffic management (UTM). FMCI supports a wide range of stakeholders, including individual researchers, multinational corporations, start-ups, and government entities. By assisting organisations to conceive, develop, trial, and deploy societally impactful technologies and solutions, FMCI helps accelerate advancements in mobility that address current and future challenges.
As India and Ireland continue work in the area of autonomous vehicle technology, opportunities are created for companies and academia from the two countries to collaborate, and share knowledge to pave the way for developing safer, more efficient transportation systems.
Minus Zero, an Indian start-up in the connected autonomous vehicle (CAV) market, has launched a software-defined platform that integrates seamlessly with next-gen vehicles, advancing beyond traditional Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). This platform is geography-agnostic, adapting to diverse terrains and conditions without extensive re-training, and vehicle-agnostic, ensuring compatibility with various models, which simplifies scaling for automakers.
In addition to Minus Zero, Tata Elxsi and Aptiv are also making notable advances in the Indian CAV market. Tata Elxsi utilizes its expertise in automotive electronics to develop advanced driver assistance and autonomous driving technologies, enhancing safety and adaptability across vehicle platforms. Aptiv offers a global perspective with its innovative hardware and software solutions, providing scalable and adaptable autonomous driving technologies for diverse environments.
Ireland’s connected autonomous vehicle (CAV) ecosystem players include Valeo, Jaguar Land Rover, Cubic Telecom, Kostal, Xilinix, Xperi, Analog Device and General Motors (GM) amongst others including academia. A supportive eco-system enables faster growth of the sector. Valeo’s advanced driver assistance systems and sensor technologies are essential for developing autonomous solutions, while Jaguar Land Rover integrates cutting-edge autonomous features into its vehicles, advancing smart vehicle technology. Cubic Telecom provides crucial connectivity solutions, enabling seamless communication for real-time data exchange necessary for effective autonomy.
GM contributes with its global expertise in autonomous driving technologies, supporting the sector’s growth and innovation in Ireland. Together, these companies are aiding the development and deployment of autonomous driving technologies in Ireland. Research institutes like CAEDAR, Lero, Insight, Tyndall, TSSG contribute to developing technology in various areas of an CAV.
Revolutionising Urban Mobility
AV technology also holds promise to positively impact ride-hailing services. A 2024 study by the Indian Urban Transport Institute predicts that driverless taxis could reduce ride costs by up to 40%, potentially revolutionizing urban transportation in India . This shift could bring unprecedented convenience and efficiency to our cities, making daily commutes smoother and more affordable.
As India progresses on the journey towards autonomous mobility, the regulatory framework set by the MoRTH, government support in various ways, combined with industry innovation and public adaptation, will shape the path forward towards AVs. By prioritising safety, fostering collaboration, and embracing innovation, we can position ourselves as important players in this technological revolution. This new future of transportation is not just a dream; it’s a road we are ready to travel on, a more connected world for all.
Tanaz Buhariwalla is the India Director, IDA Ireland. Views expressed are her own.