EU chief pushes for European lead in AI-driven automotive future | The Express Tribune
Key Takeaways
- Ursula von der Leyen called for a continent-wide push for self-driving car development in the EU.
- She advocated for adopting an "AI first" strategy across strategic European industries, focusing on mobility.
- The goal is to revive the struggling European automotive sector and improve road safety.
- Von der Leyen proposed forming a network of European cities to pilot autonomous vehicles.
- She emphasized the need for vehicles to be "made in Europe, and made for European streets" to maintain competitiveness.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen advocated for a comprehensive, continent-wide effort to develop self-driving cars, arguing that artificial intelligence is crucial for revitalizing the EU's competitive automotive industry. Addressing attendees at Italian Tech Week in Turin, she called for the EU to implement an "AI first" strategy, specifically targeting mobility, to catch up with technological advancements seen in the United States and China. A key proposal included establishing a network of European cities to pilot autonomous vehicles, an initiative already supported by numerous Italian mayors. Von der Leyen linked this technological push directly to safety, stating "AI first" also means "safety first." Furthermore, she committed the bloc's support to developing vehicles that are both manufactured in Europe and specifically designed for European road conditions, aiming to preserve jobs amidst the industry's rapid transformation toward decarbonization and digitization.
