Programme:
Hannah Pickstone, head of research, Sewells Research & Insight
Fleet operators are asking fundamental questions that will test the viability of the latest technology as it becomes available to company car drivers. While there is great potential behind new products and services, ranging from autonomous braking to self-driving cars and multi-modal mobility programmes, fleets are bringing a dose of commercial reality to the debate.
Key questions include whether innovations are fit for purpose, reliable and cost-effective. As a result, while fleets are very receptive to change, they are also passive as they expect suppliers to provide evidence that new products and services are fit for their fleet before they embark on introducing changes. This session will reveal how evolution, rather than revolution, is the driving force behind fleet changes.
Darren Jukes, leader of industry, industrial manufacturing & services, partner, deals, PricewaterhouseCoopers
What will Brexit mean for the automotive industry? From costs and prices to talent and skills, strategy to regulation, there will be a number of elements that businesses need to consider across the supply chain.
Stephen Joseph, chief executive, Campaign for Better Transport
Current patterns and trends in transport are posing big problems for the UK, especially in cities. Air pollution is a huge issue, and diesel engines are a big part of the problem. Congestion is growing too. At the same time responsibility and funding for transport is being devolved from the UK to a range of bodies - city regions (some with elected mayors), sub-national transport groups and the devolved governments. Several of these are aiming to create smart and sustainable cities and regions, and are seeking to use and manage new technologies to do this and change travel patterns. Increasingly, they are acting together and working with their counterparts in other countries. This means that the automotive world will face new regulators and regulations, which will challenge traditional ways of doing business. For example, cities might come together to mandate autonomous vehicles in urban areas being electric, shared and with open data. Stephen will set out this approach in more detail in his presentation.
Richard Cuerden, director, TRL Academy
Semi-autonomous or ‘driver auto-pilot assistance’ systems will be commercially available and sold in reasonable numbers in the next few years. In the same timeframe, mobility trends in industrialised countries will change as a consequence of new powertrain technologies; different vehicle ownership models with increases in shared vehicle use; and societal changes, including fewer young people gaining car driving licences and proportionally more elderly people using vehicles.
The transition to Smarter Cities with more connectivity, along with the policy requirements to improve air quality and reduce congestion, will be a catalyst to promote the introduction of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAV) in urban environments. The consequence today is a highly competitive and disruptive period for traditional and non-traditional vehicle manufacturers. In parallel, mobility service providers are investing in what will be dynamic and potentially very profitable ride-hailing and freight delivery services, with new Mobility as a Service (MaaS) businesses models.
TRL is undertaking significant research in this area including leading the Smart Mobility Living Lab in London, where new CAVs are tested in real world environments, initiated by the GATEway project. Further, TRL is leading the UK’s HGV Platooning Trials and will be providing an independent assessment of the potential benefits.
Steve Yianni, ex chief executive, Transport Systems Catapult
A survey of 10,000 travellers in the UK was conducted by the Transport Systems Catapult on behalf of the industry through a jointly funded collaboration project. The purpose was to assess the needs, frustrations and aspirations of travellers in the UK. This survey gave a valuable insight into the travelling trends in the UK.
The published “Traveller Needs” survey provided a classification of traveller types, and a hierarchy of needs for consumers. It also provided an insight into the capabilities of UK industry to meet those needs. The output of the survey provided a framework for technology roadmaps for the Intelligent Mobility sectors to follow.
As former CEO of the Transport Systems Catapult, Steve Yianni will provide a summary of the findings and a personal view on travel trends of the future.