The growth of autonomous vehicles in Europe is rapidly expanding, especially with the establishment of new services in major cities across the continent. Regulations established this year by various EU countries have paved the way for the entry of this innovative technology into the market. For example, in Munich, Germany, Waymo, a subsidiary of Google, has announced plans to launch its first operations in Europe by 2027.
Development of Autonomous Services in Madrid
Continuing this trend, the Madrid region has recently issued licenses for companies like Uber, WeRide, and AVOMO to begin mapping and testing autonomous transport services. The first rides are expected to take place by the end of 2026. AVOMO, a subsidiary of the Spanish group Moove Cars, focuses on launching autonomous vehicle services in the United States and now Europe.
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WeRide has also received a license and is collaborating with Zurich Airport to provide transport services from terminals to airplanes using driverless buses. These developments indicate that Europe is gradually embracing new technologies in transportation.
Autonomous Testing in Zagreb
In addition to Munich and Madrid, in Zagreb, Croatia, companies Pony.ai and Verne have also conducted their first autonomous tests from Zagreb Airport to the capital's business district. This technology is implemented using Nvidia chips. This consortium aims to further expand these services in Zagreb in the near future. Verne, as a subsidiary of the Croatian automaker Rimac, demonstrates the capability of European companies to compete with the biggest names in the global automotive industry.
On September 15, the Swedish transport company Einride announced that in collaboration with the German retail giant Lidl, it has received the Level 4 standard license from the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) from the Federal Motor Transport Authority of Germany (KBA). Einride plans to deploy driverless electric trucks on German roads. Starting from September 2026, these driverless trucks will connect Lidl warehouses with stores.
Safety and Road Welfare Potentials
While this project is still in the testing phase, Lidl hopes to address driver shortages by adding autonomous delivery vehicles, thereby strengthening its supply chain resilience. Germany's road regulations are known to be among the strictest in the world, and the approval of this license should bring optimism to technology enthusiasts in Europe and beyond.
Previous research has shown that seven out of ten fatal accidents could be prevented with the introduction of driverless cars in the EU, potentially saving up to 13,000 lives annually. While there is typically skepticism about technology regarding European regulations, we are witnessing a significant shift in the attitudes of European authorities towards embracing innovations in the field of autonomous transportation. These developments highlight the high potential for road safety and consumer convenience, and it seems that positive news in this area will continue.
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