The mobility ecosystem is undergoing a transformation. Global disruption, technological advances and changing consumer behaviours are altering the industry beyond measure. Some new mobility trends and automotive technologies, especially leading-edge electric-vehicle (EV) batteries, frequently make headlines. Meanwhile, other developments are quietly emerging but possess the potential to profoundly shape future mobility. So how can consumers and businesses seize the benefits of this revolution to unlock potential?
Self-driving cars could be on UK roads by 2026
New legislation on safety and liability for self-driving vehicle technologies is expected to pass in 2024 and will cement the UK’s position as a global leader in the innovative automated vehicle industry with companies expected to introduce the technology gradually from 2026.
The legislation clarifies liability rules and the safety threshold for self-driving vehicles on UK roads, providing a clear path towards commercialisation for the industry and by 2035, the UK could capture as much as £42bn of the international self-driving market.
These new rules sit alongside increased government funding and support for trials of self-driving technologies in the UK, including on the feasibility of self-driving mass transit solutions. Looking further ahead, the Department of Transport is supporting the development of research and development of drone delivery and electric aircraft, with the ‘Future of Flight’ action plan envisaging that trials of autonomous flying taxis will commence by 2030.
Autonomous vehicle connectivity drives change
The arrival of autonomous and connected vehicles had led to increasing use of internet of things and telecommunications technology in the automotive industry. This has led to a significant increase in the volume of standard essential patents (SEPs) implemented in vehicles, and to disputes over what constitutes fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms for licensing SEP technologies in the automotive industry. SEP licensing will be in the spotlight in 2024, as the European Commission moves forward with controversial proposals to enhance transparency and provide an alternative dispute resolution mechanism for determining FRAND terms and conditions.
“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.”
– Mark Harper, Secretary of State for Transport
SEP and FRAND issues beyond the mobility sector
In an era of rapid technological transformation standards will define the markets of the future. The US Government has identified developing standards in emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Clean Energy and Quantum Information technologies, as being an essential strategic priority, and the UK Intellectual Property Office is considering the importance of technical standards in maintaining the UK’s position as a global leader in innovation. We expect that SEP licensing will become an increasingly important issue outside of the telecommunications and mobility contexts and there will be a growing need for decision makers in other sectors to understand the overall SEP landscape.
The rise of Mobility as a Service (MaaS)
Mobility as a Service (MaaS) describes digital transport service platforms that integrate different modes of transport together with real-time journey planning information and payment functions into a single mobility service for users. A recent Department for Transport code of practice has been introduced to support the growth of MaaS and to help the UK meet its decarbonisation and net zero ambitions, including through shared transport and micromobility modes like e-scooters.
The UK remains the last major European economy where e-scooters are banned except on private lands or in a government ride-share e-scooter trial location. New legislation in December 2023 requires renters to provide their driving licence details before hiring an e-scooter, to improve safety. This development, alongside plans from the Department for Transport to create a new Low-Speed Zero Emission Vehicle (LZEV) licence category which includes e-scooters, aims to provide certainty for the industry, promote innovation and the drive adoption of light electric vehicles while maintaining safety standards.
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