Autonomous mobility in 2025: what is already on the street
Although we have received little striking news lately about advances in autonomous mobility, it keeps moving forward, and little by little we are getting closer to a future full of opportunities that this sector will bring.
We are no longer talking about futuristic prototypes, but about services that are changing the way we get around, work and live. From driverless taxis to drone deliveries, the advances in autonomous mobility are undeniable.
Cities such as Phoenix, Shanghai or Helsinki are only a few examples of places where autonomous solutions are already being integrated into their public and private transport systems.
Autonomous vehicles are no longer science fiction
In Phoenix (Arizona), Waymo has been running a commercial robotaxi service for some time that carries thousands of people every day. It remains to be seen how they will affect traffic congestion and the efficiency of urban transport.
At the same time, companies such as Amazon and JD.com have deployed drones and small to optimise last-mile logistics. Amazon, with its MK30 drone service launched in Tolleson, Arizona, has introduced advances that allow it to carry packages of up to 2.27 kg and fly twice the distance of earlier models, operating with 50% less noise.
These drones can make deliveries in under an hour. Researchers are studying whether, for small deliveries, they would also reduce the environmental impact compared with ground transport.
But the advances are not limited to personal transport. Autonomous mobility is being adopted in sectors such as logistics, where large distribution centres use fleets of autonomous vehicles to move goods faster and more sustainably.
In Shanghai, a fully automated port has significantly reduced operating times thanks to autonomous vehicles that work 24 hours a day, allowing gains in operational efficiency since it was introduced. This has led the port to exceed 50 million standard containers (TEU) in 2024, setting a new world record.
This kind of technological integration is setting a precedent for other logistics industries that want to adapt to the growing demand for fast, sustainable deliveries, so over the coming years we will see an explosion of new solutions in this sector.
The speed of adoption of autonomous driving
Despite these achievements, the development and adoption of these technologies face major challenges. Regional differences in investment and infrastructure affect the speed of adoption. In the United States and China, large investments have driven rapid deployment.
In China, although there are no official figures on the volume of investment, we do know that very ambitious autonomous driving projects are being promoted in several cities across the country, which have led to the development and growth of new startups.
Unfortunately, we are lagging behind: although Europe is increasing its funding, in comparison it is still far lower in this sector. Instead, it is concentrating on common regulations and standards to guarantee and safety.
And yes, although this approach has allowed progress in technological harmonisation, it has slowed mass deployment compared with its global competitors.
This should make us ask which model we want when it comes to driving development, because, as is easy to see, low volumes of investment compared with the other two great powers, an excessive regulatory burden and bureaucratic processes are holding back projects that would help create competitive advantages on the old continent.
In addition, to achieve the adoption of these technologies we must also take public perception into account, since it depends to a large extent on it.
An international study published in Safety Science analysed the perceptions of 33,958 people in 51 countries and found that China shows the highest acceptance of autonomous vehicles, followed by the United States, while Europe is more cautious. Concern about safety is nevertheless common to all regions, especially in the United States.
Likewise, trust in autonomous vehicle technologies is relatively low in the United States and Europe, while Chinese consumers show great confidence and seem the most willing to adopt autonomous vehicles, which may be due to strong government support for their development and adoption.
These differences in perception may be influenced by factors such as cultural attitudes towards technology, government policies and the pace of autonomous vehicle development.
All this reflects the need to run educational campaigns and pilot programmes that let people experience first-hand how these vehicles work, so that they can start to become familiar with the benefits these technologies will bring us.
When it comes to the future, though, the belief seems clear: "Autonomous cars will drive better than human drivers", according to a study carried out by ANSYS Global Autonomous Vehicles.
The reality of driving without a driver is getting closer every day
Yes, autonomous mobility in 2025 is not a future promise; it is a reality in development that can already be seen in many places around the world. Its benefits, such as less congestion, a smaller environmental impact and fewer road accidents, are already being felt even though the race is at a fairly early stage.
That is why it is hard to understand that in Spain we do not encourage active policies that promote the development of a much more dynamic, innovative ecosystem that attracts investment, makes it easier to develop new projects and shows the benefits of these technologies in a tangible way, so that people can understand them and start enjoying them as soon as possible.
With continued investment, technological advances and a collaborative approach, this technology promises to redefine not only how we move, but also how we live and work.
It is time to act.
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