Driverless cars are on course to generate €17 trillion for the European economy by 2050, according to new research.
Fully ‘autonomous vehicles’ are predicted to be providing fully ‘hands-off’ door-to-door transport on the road within the decade. A poll of 6,000 people in the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Norway found almost a quarter of those planning to buy a car in five or more years would consider an autonomous car, which will add 0.15 per cent to Europe’s annual growth rate in the decades to come.
As a result, the European gross domestic product [GDP] will, cumulatively, be over five per cent higher in the year 2050, by which time autonomous vehicles will have contributed a total of €17 trillion to GDP.
Paul Willcox, Chairman of Nissan Europe, said: “This independent report highlights that we are in the midst of a social and economic revolution.
“It shows that autonomous technology will have a fundamental impact not just on the automotive industry but across European economies and societies and it suggests that leadership within all levels of government is needed.
“At Nissan we believe, for the full benefits of autonomous drive technologies to be realised, governments and municipalities across Europe should review the report’s findings, work hand in hand with the automotive industry, and play a vital role in ushering in this new technological era.”
