"The signing of the Joint Declaration of Intent is a positive signal for the ramp-up of autonomous driving in Europe. The German and European automotive industries possess the technological expertise. It is high time that the regulatory framework in Europe keeps pace.

The fact is: Successful scaling of Level 4 applications requires rules that can be used across borders, harmonized procedures, and greater mutual recognition of approvals. Europe cannot afford isolated regulatory solutions when it comes to autonomous driving. Anyone who wants to scale autonomous mobility needs a unified European framework for approval, testing, and operation. Cross-border testbeds are one component of this and can help bring autonomous mobility into practice more quickly. It is positive that the initiative also considers the involvement of European industry and technology partners, as well as strengthening industrial value creation and the resilience of the European ecosystem.

Now it is crucial to quickly translate the declaration of intent into concrete measures—from uniform framework conditions and digital infrastructure to support for large-scale testing and demonstration projects. The declaration of intent alone will not solve the existing regulatory challenges. It should therefore be the starting point for further steps. Europe cannot afford to lose any time on autonomous driving—especially considering international competition.

In general, autonomous driving will be successful where innovation meets scalability. For this to happen, Europe needs less regulatory fragmentation, more harmonization, and close coordination between member states. This initiative can be a first step in that direction."