Luxembourg focuses on autonomous driving

‘Autonomous driving is not a vision of the future, but already a reality,’ explained Yuriko Backes, Minister for Mobility and Public Works, and Lex Delles, Minister for the Economy, at the presentation of the national strategy ‘Automatiséiert Fueren 2028’. The two ministers want to pick up the pace: by 2028, Luxembourg aims to become the first European country with a complete legal framework for the daily use of autonomous technologies. ‘We want to move forward quickly in order to attract companies and develop them here in Luxembourg,’ emphasised Lex Delles. The two DP ministers already presented their plans to the relevant parliamentary committees this week, where they received largely positive feedback.

An ambitious strategy, comparable to space policy

Similar to the ‘SpaceMining’ initiative, which put Luxembourg on the global innovation map in the space sector, the government now wants to repeat this success in the field of autonomous mobility.

“A McKinsey study estimates the global market for autonomous driving at 300 to 400 billion euros by 2035. Luxembourg wants to play a leading role here in Europe,” explained Lex Delles, underlining the economic importance of the industry.

To create a genuine ecosystem, the country is relying on its strengths: short decision-making processes, a high level of expertise and the ability to quickly create the necessary framework conditions for companies.

‘With players such as Émile Weber, CFL, Sales Lentz and Pony.ai, Luxembourg already has pilot projects to show for itself. But questions remain about regulation, insurance and supervision. A clear legal framework should provide answers here in order to attract innovative companies and promote the emergence of start-ups,’ explained the two ministers. They also emphasised the importance of cooperation between research, industry and the authorities. ‘Innovation is crucial. We must further strengthen the links between the University of Luxembourg, the SnT and the National Research Fund in order to offer companies the best possible conditions for innovation,’ said Delles.

Initial tests are underway

Even though many have considered autonomous driving to be a topic for the future for years, these vehicles have long been on Luxembourg’s roads. ‘The US company Pony.ai has already completed 2,000 kilometres in Luxembourg without any accidents. At present, a safety driver is still sitting in the vehicle because there is no suitable legal framework. Our strategy aims to go beyond the existing laws,’ explained Delles.

“Autonomous driving is happening in different stages. The first step has already been taken with modern assistance systems. Safety is at the heart of our strategy. We are not reinventing the wheel: driverless taxis and trucks are already operating in the US and Asia. Europe is putting the brakes on. We must act quickly to attract and develop companies,” the minister continued.

People at the heart of technology

Despite the fast pace, the government does not want to pursue the issue from a purely technological perspective. Social and human aspects must also be taken into account. Technology can sometimes trigger fears, for example with regard to jobs. Yuriko Backes therefore emphasised that the strategy is part of a comprehensive economic diversification that aims to create a dynamic ecosystem around smart mobility while ensuring the ‘harmonious and ethical integration of these technologies into society’. The minister stressed that automated vehicles must be integrated into Luxembourg’s existing multimodal mobility system.

One of the minister’s key concerns is the social acceptance of autonomous driving. This is to be promoted through transparent communication on issues such as safety and employment.

‘We are in dialogue with the social partners. I am convinced that autonomous driving will bring benefits, especially for the logistics sector, which is suffering from a shortage of skilled workers,’ said Backes.