Self-driving cars in UK may be helped by Brexit vote

Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), said several factors meant that post-Brexit Britain could be better suited to support the development of technology for autonomous vehicles than a UK inside the EU.

• UK has a more liberal approach to internet communications used by technologies like driverless cars – legal issues would be lesser here than within the EU
• Modern Transport Bill – aims to reduce red tape restrictions around automated driving
• SMMT/KPMG published a report which estimates a £50bn/annum contribution to economy by 2030, provided the UK creates an environment that allows and supports autonomous cars
• In the same report by SMMT/KPMG, it is estimated that by 2030, the following will have happened as a direct result of autonomous cars:
  • 320,000 additional jobs, 25,000 of which are in automotive manufacturing
  • 2,500 lives saved
  • 25,000 serious accidents prevented
  • Improve GDP by 1%

“Britain is already perceived as an attractive test-bed for technologies; Brexit may make it more attractive” Hawes told The Telegraph.

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Read the full report here.