IoT components in connected and autonomous vehicles

The European automotive industry, representing 6.1% of total EU employment and 7% of EU GDP, is facing a digital revolution in the 21^st century in the form of the connected and autonomous vehicle (vehicle to everything ‒ which includes vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-infrastructure, vehicle-to-network, vehicle-to-cloud, vehicle-to-device and vehicle-to-pedestrian). With the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) components into vehicles, they become part of a network. Vehicles can communicate with each other, with the surrounding infrastructure and with other drivers. Gradually the technologies of IoT for connected and autonomous vehicles (combined with the evolution of Artificial Intelligence and communication networks) support assisted driving (steering, acceleration and brake support), then conditional automation (the system has longitudinal and lateral control in a specific use case), followed by high automation (the system can cope with all situations automatically in a defined use case) and finally full automation (the system is able to drive the vehicle in all conditions; no driver is required).

The objectives of this report are to map out the value chain of IoT for connected and autonomous vehicles and the key actors, to provide an analysis of the EU’s competitive positioning therein, and to indicate related challenges and opportunities. With an analytical and empirical approach, this report aims to provide relevant stakeholders a clear overview of the current and future landscape of these technologies in the EU. Analyses were based on desk-research and interviews with subject matter experts.