The autonomous car industry has been rapidly evolving since 2020, as highlighted in a market research report from IDTechEx. Over the past four years, level 3 technologies have been certified for consumer use on public roads, hands-off/eyes-on driving has become a solid market segment, and commercial driverless robotaxi services are now available to the public.
Although level 3 technologies have technically been available since 2021, their growth has been slower than expected. Honda was the first to certify hands-off, eyes-off driving on the Legend Ex in 2021, but availability was limited to only one hundred vehicles in Japan. Mercedes followed suit in 2022 with the Drive-Pilot system on the S-Class and EQS in Germany. BMW also certified its 7 Series for level 3 use in Germany in early 2024. Tesla is planning to introduce hands-off, eyes-off driving for owners in Texas and California by 2025.
On the other hand, level 2+ technologies, which allow the driver to take their hands off the wheel while keeping their eyes on the road, are gaining momentum. General Motors’s Super Cruise system is available across the US and Canada, while Ford’s BlueCruise is available in Europe. These technologies are easier to deploy than level 3, as the driver remains responsible for the vehicle.
Robotaxis are becoming a reality in the US and China, with companies like Waymo and Baidu making significant strides in deploying autonomous vehicles for public use. Waymo has operations in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and is expanding to Austin and Atlanta. Baidu has a fleet of 500 vehicles operating in Wuhan, offering competitive pricing compared to human-driven taxis.
IDTechEx predicts that 2024 and the following years will be the “hockey stick” moment for robotaxis and autonomous driving, with more cities coming online and existing deployments expanding. The market research report, “Autonomous Vehicles Market 2025-2045: Robotaxis, Autonomous Cars, Sensors,” provides detailed insights into the consumer autonomous driving market, trends in enabling technologies, and forecasts for the industry.
In an upcoming webinar, IDTechEx will discuss the differences between level 2+ and level 3 technologies, the major hurdles for each, vehicles currently equipped with these systems, and the market outlook for autonomous cars. The webinar will provide valuable information for industry professionals and enthusiasts looking to understand the current state of the autonomous vehicle industry.
For more information and to register for the webinar, visit www.IDTechEx.com/AutonomousCars. IDTechEx is a trusted source of independent research on emerging technologies and markets, offering insights into new technologies, market requirements, opportunities, and forecasts since 1999. Contact research@IDTechEx.com or visit www.IDTechEx.com for more information.