“Germany wants to become the leading market for autonomous driving” – so says the coalition agreement. The political will is there, as is the technology. But in practice, many pilot projects fail not because of a lack of innovation, but because of excessive bureaucracy, a confusion of responsibilities, and unrealistic requirements, writes Taavi Rõivas, Chairman of Auve Tech and former Prime Minister of Estonia.
As a company that successfully operates autonomous shuttles in several countries, we have a clear picture of what works – and what doesn’t. Our vehicles are ready. The demand is there. We are encountering great interest in German cities. But while concrete projects are emerging in Japan and Switzerland, similar initiatives in Germany often come to nothing.
“Many projects fail not because of a lack of will, but because of the complexity between municipal, state, and federal levels.”
Taavi Rõivas, Chairman of Auve Tech and former Prime Minister of Estonia
What many people don’t see is that it’s not technical hurdles that are slowing down autonomous mobility – it’s structural ones. In one state, we receive approval, while in the next, the same project is confronted with new requirements. Repeated risk analyses, new infrastructure requirements, contradictory interpretations – all of this delays approvals by up to two years.
A problem of structure, not vision
Many projects fail not because of a lack of will, but because of the complexity between municipal, state, and federal levels. In the end, everyone loses: cities, providers, passengers—and Germany as a business location.
“Autonomous driving is not a topic for the future – it is reality. The question is where this reality will be shaped.”
Taavi Rõivas, Chairman of Auve Tech and former Prime Minister of Estonia
In Estonia, we have a uniform, transparent set of rules. National authorities support innovation—they don’t block it. Our project at Tallinn Airport, where a shuttle without a safety driver will be in regular operation from the end of 2025, would be virtually inconceivable under the current conditions in Germany. In Japan, our technology has already been approved for Level 4 operation. Switzerland works pragmatically and goal-oriented with start-ups – and thus achieves results more quickly.
What Germany needs now
Germany must harmonize and streamline regulatory processes. It needs a central point of contact for autonomous mobility, clear guidelines for operation without safety drivers, and incentives for cities to implement pilot projects. Isolated solutions are not helpful – a comprehensive legal framework is. Without such reforms, there is a risk that expertise and investment will migrate elsewhere.
In the long term, autonomous shuttles can save up to 40% in operating costs – especially on the first and last mile. They relieve traffic, reduce CO₂ emissions, and help where driver shortages have long been a daily occurrence. In rural areas, they can ensure mobility where traditional services are no longer economical. The potential is there – we just have to use it.
About the author
Taavi Rõivas is Chairman of the Estonian technology company Auve Tech and was Prime Minister of Estonia from 2014 to 2016. Auve Tech develops autonomous electric shuttles for use in cities, airports, industrial areas, and rural areas.
We are currently in talks with German cities and transport companies. Vehicles are ready, routes are planned. All that is missing is the green light from the regulatory authorities. If Germany succeeds in removing regulatory barriers, it will benefit from the world’s leading solutions. If not, others will be quicker off the mark.
Autonomous driving is not a topic for the future – it is reality. The question is where this reality will be shaped.
This content is funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.
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