# UK self-driving car dreams could break down at the starting line
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2023-06-08
Category: Uncategorized
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/uncategorized
Meta Title: UK Self-Driving Car Dreams: Potential Legislation Delays
Meta Description: Discover how the UK's self-driving car ambitions may be jeopardised without timely laws to regulate the technology. Learn more from industry experts.
URL: https://financedigest.com/uk-self-driving-car-dreams-could-break-down-at-the-starting-linehtml

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By Nick Carey and Alistair Smout

LONDON (Reuters) – Britain could lose out on investments in autonomous vehicles (AVs) and see startups shift testing elsewhere if promised laws to regulate the technology are not passed before the next general election, startups and insurance companies said.

Despite the government’s vision to be a world leader in AV technology, truly driverless cars are not currently permitted on Britain’s roads, making it difficult for start-ups to commercialise their vehicles and insurers to assess their risks.

The UK government said last August it would advance a bill in the current parliamentary session, which is [expected to end](https://www.financedigest.com/spain-expects-to-agree-with-banks-mortgage-relief-measures-by-end-of-week.html "Spain expects to agree with banks mortgage relief measures by end of week") this autumn, providing detailed regulations by 2025.

That has not yet happened, with [political turmoil](https://www.financedigest.com/britains-political-and-market-turmoil-2.html "Britain’s political and market turmoil") forcing the government to water down ambitions for this session.

With a [national election](https://www.financedigest.com/quebecs-elected-officials-must-swear-oath-to-king-charles-to-sit-in-national-assembly.html "Quebec’s elected officials must swear oath to King Charles to sit in National Assembly") due by January 2025, industry wants the government to bring forward legislation next session, or risk lengthy delays.

There is a window of opportunity for the UK to at least be leading on something,” said Claudio Gienal, [head of UK and Ireland operations for global](https://www.financedigest.com/global-growth-headed-down-as-inflation-surge-to-endure.html "Global growth headed down as inflation surge to endure") insurer AXA, which believes the technology could prevent accidents.

“Whoever moves first will have the advantage of attracting investment, skills and expertise.”

But if you’re second or third, why should people come here?” added Gienal, who wrote to Britain’s [finance minister](https://www.financedigest.com/uks-finance-minister-sets-out-new-economic-approach-to-finance-bosses.html "UK’s finance minister sets out new economic approach to finance bosses") in April urging the government to pass a bill in the next parliamentary session.

The British government’s vision is built on forecasts that by 2035 around 40% of new cars could have self-driving capabilities and leadership in AV technology could create up to 38,000 new skilled jobs in a market worth 42 [billion pounds](https://www.financedigest.com/edf-delays-uk-nuclear-project-to-2027-ups-price-by-3-billion-pounds.html "EDF delays UK nuclear project to 2027, ups price by 3 billion pounds") ($53 billion) to Britain by that date.

Transport Minister Mark Harper in December said there would no longer be a Transport Bill this session, and did not mention a separate AV bill in an outline of the ministry’s legislative agenda.

Iain Stewart, who [chairs parliament’s](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-parliament-committee-chair-says-she-talked-defence-cooperation-on-taiwan-trip.html "UK parliament committee chair says she talked defence cooperation on Taiwan trip") transport committee, said there was not enough time for an AV law this session, but it could happen in the next session.

Last month [Junior Minister](https://www.financedigest.com/greg-hands-appointed-as-uk-junior-trade-minister.html "Greg Hands appointed as UK junior trade minister") Jesse Norman said he shared AV startups’ concerns.

“We are making the case as vigorously as we can… for this to be a [priority for the government,”](https://www.financedigest.com/factbox-uk-government-sets-out-priorities-in-queens-speech.html "Factbox-UK government sets out priorities in Queen’s speech") he told lawmakers.

Failure to enact regulations could cede ground to other countries like France, Germany and the United Arab Emirates, which are [putting regulations](https://www.financedigest.com/cash-crunch-for-british-funds-puts-regulators-under-pensions-lens.html "Cash crunch for British funds puts regulators under pensions lens") in place, or several U.S. states including California.

Startups are actively lobbying the government to pass the bill, while [insurers](https://www.financedigest.com/different-countries-different-insurance-cultures-how-insurers-can-adapt-their-products.html "insurers") need to know who is liable so they can insure driverless cars.

They fear a self-driving bill will be crowded out by other vote-winning priorities in the run-up to the election.

We’ve got to [see the legislation move forward in this next](https://www.financedigest.com/the-next-upcoming-years-to-see-the-aesthetic-lasers-and-energy-devices-market-get-through-the-best-of-both-innovation-and-inquisition.html "The Next Upcoming Years To See The Aesthetic Lasers And Energy Devices Market Get Through The Best Of Both – Innovation And Inquisition") (parliamentary) session to make this a reality,” said Kaity Fischer, commercial vice president at London-based Wayve. Or we would be forced to [move to other markets](https://www.financedigest.com/the-cleanroom-technology-market-to-be-on-the-mobility-move.html "The Cleanroom Technology Market To Be On The Mobility Move") for deployment.

Wayve has raised [around $260 million](https://www.financedigest.com/supercapacitor-market-size-to-worth-around-usd-5979-67-million-by-2026-tmr.html "Supercapacitor Market Size to Worth around USD 5,979.67 Million by 2026 – TMR") so far from investors, including Microsoft.

“CHANGE OUR PLANS”

So far, the UK government has been seen as highly supportive of AV startups, with its Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles securing over 400 [million pounds](https://www.financedigest.com/uks-nationwide-to-pay-340-million-pounds-to-customers-after-profit-leap.html "UK’s Nationwide to pay 340 million pounds to customers after profit leap") in private and government funding for more than 90 projects.

Last year, two independent governmental bodies spelled out well-received recommendations for an AV law.

Ashley Feldman, programme and policy manager for transport and [smart cities](https://www.financedigest.com/smart-city-kiosk-market-to-reap-excessive-revenues-by-2028-trends-and-forecast-by-fact-mr-investigated-in-the-latest-research.html "Smart City Kiosk Market To Reap Excessive Revenues By 2028 | Trends And Forecast By Fact.MR investigated in the latest research") at industry group TechUK, said a delay would force startups to test and start generating revenues elsewhere.

“It’s important that these startups get to commercialisation quickly,” he said.

Bristol-based Fusion Processing recently [launched a 14-mile autonomous bus route linking Edinburgh and nearby Fife in partnership](https://www.financedigest.com/adverty-launches-industry-first-streaming-video-technology-for-in-play-ads-in-partnership-with-seenthis.html "Adverty launches industry-first streaming video technology for In-Play™ ads in partnership with SeenThis") with bus operator Stagecoach, bus maker Alexander Dennis and partly funded by the government – with a safety driver at the wheel.

Fusion wants to start UK commercial driverless bus services in 2025.

If that doesn’t happen, then we would have to change our [plans,” CEO](https://www.financedigest.com/volkswagen-investors-question-plan-for-ceo-to-lead-porsche-listing.html "Volkswagen investors question plan for CEO to lead Porsche listing") Jim Hutchinson said, including testing in other countries.

Oxford-based AV software firm Oxbotica has raised about $225 million from investors and is working on AV projects with customers including BP and [British online supermarket](https://www.financedigest.com/looks-arent-everything-british-supermarkets-to-stock-misshapen-fruit-amid-drought.html "Looks aren’t everything – British supermarkets to stock misshapen fruit amid drought") and technology group Ocado.

Founder Paul Newman said he was optimistic the [government will pass its promised bill](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-government-to-cap-energy-bills-for-businesses-bloomberg.html "UK government to cap energy bills for businesses – Bloomberg"), but added it is “extremely important that we get this done very, very soon.

(Reporting By Nick Carey, editing by Ben Klayman and Sharon Singleton)


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