Event report
Past Event | The Future of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles
Throwback on our first Smart Cities & Mobility event of the year on the future of connected and autonomous vehicles. Featuring experts Julien Mialaret (Eurazeo), Cheryl Seah (Drew & Napier), Kaixin Xu (WeRide Singapore) and Niels de Boer (NTU/CETRAN), the discussion explored the rapid evolution of Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) and Singapore’s role in this global shift, and the transition from experimental trials to commercial reality.
Key takeaways from the discussion included:
Global Scale is Already Here: AVs are no longer science fiction. We are seeing it already in the US and with commercial bus lines running across China. AVs are also used in the logistics sector for goods transportation, with a great ROI driven by a massive drop in sensor costs and the removal of labor-intensive workforce management.
Singapore as a Regional Launchpad: Singapore is moving from trials to deployment, like in the Punggol digital district where autonomous shuttles will soon be integrated into the public transport network.
Safety hurdles: Despite 20 years of development, challenges remain regarding "teledriving" (remote operation), data sovereignty, and technical limitations—such as sensors being "blinded" by heavy tropical rain. While 100% safety is impossible, AVs offer a massive reduction in human error and provide a safer environment for passengers.
Social & Ethical Considerations: While AVs offer a safer environment – also for female passengers by reducing harassment risks -, the industry must still navigate the ethics of job displacement and data privacy.
