2025AD

7 years of dri­ver­less his­to­ry

2016

2016 is a pivotal year for self-driving cars. The industry is finally truly in love and commits itself to the development of the technology. Ideas abound and every well-known OEM channels them into more or less futuristic AV design concepts. The ramifications of driverless mobility for society, business and environment are discussed and explored in depth. Overall, the spirit is optimistic and only dampened when a Tesla crash in June claims the first human life in this new era. This fueled the political debate sparked earlier in the year on the challenges of car automation such as safety and concerns of liability.

Regarding the application, the discussions revolved around how to ensure reliable mapping for autonomous vehicles (Putting driverless cars on the map) and the question whether logistics or the private sector had more disruptive potential (Automated Trucks). With regard to realization, the question was, how to join forces to meet the enormous new challenges and opportunities - in R&D (Pedal to the medal) as well as in politics (Pairing politics and industry).

Launched on January 11th at the Detroit Motor Show by Continental’s CEO, 2016 is also the year that 2025AD saw the light of day – designed as a marketplace for ideas surrounding automated driving and to accompany and take part in the debate.

While the previous year technical feasibilities and broader impact of autonomous mobility were at the top of the agenda, 2017 saw a change in the way of thinking. The relationship between driver and car is scrutinized to new levels. If humans are to relinquish control, how can they be made comfortable with their changing role from driver to passenger? Considerations shift from purely technological aspects towards user experience and the potential impact of self-driving cars on our daily lives. Trust is the name of the game, which also means, for a long time to come vehicles will need to have an “off”-Button.

Still, some argue that sooner rather than later humans will no longer be driving at all (Will humans still drive?). VW explores the cars potential to become an extension of people’s living rooms (VW Sedric). User experience, in general is a new focus area (Automated driving’s next stop), especially because it might be a key factor for acceptance.

To better understand individual hopes and fears, 2025AD lets visitors of the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) 2017 bring to life their idea of the perfect automated vehicle with the help of live drawing artists (2025AD campaign). See for yourself what wild and cool ideas the end-users came up with: 2025AD ADCarEditions IAA2017 (PDF)

2018

During every development comes a phase of disillusionment. 2018 marks the change from honeymoon phase towards facing the realities of transforming visions into viable AD solutions. The industry is in the middle of doing the grunt work, wading knee-deep through the mud to lay down the complex technical basis. The proof is in the pudding after all.

When the first pedestrian is killed by an automated Uber (The fatal Uber crash), debates about the ethics of driverless technologies arise. Questions of liability and the possible risks of AD are given increased attention and move into focus. Such as the dilemma of people being asked to give up control – yet be ready to react immediately in situations that the AV can’t handle, for example. Apart from ethical (The ethics of autonomous driving) and legal ramifications (Why ten lives don’t outweigh one, Stop in the name of the law!), there are also concerns regarding the social effects of progressing automation (Losing connection).

For 2025AD, 2018 is the year of first-time participation at a BarCamp in Hannover. At the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA), the 2025AD expert panel dives deep into the ethical implications of AD.

2019

The groundwork has been done; OEMs are increasingly tackling the challenges through cooperations: BMW and Daimler, VW and Ford, GM-owned Cruise with Honda, Toyota and Subaru, to name but a few. Additionally, we see the first public AV-services as pilots in Phoenix (Waymo) and San Francisco (Cruise).

The social debate, meanwhile, revolves around the impact of AD on our daily lives (Will everyone win in a driverless future?). How will driverless cars change the way we work? Will cars become an extension of our homes? How will public transport be affected? How will traffic on the Autobahn change if commercial vehicles drive autonomously? What may the implications and potentials be in the commercial sector? These are just a few of the questions that are being discussed. All parts of society will be affected by the advent of AD: Our children will have a completely different understanding of mobility (How generation alpha will experience mobility), daily routines may drastically change (A driverless world: a female perspective) and AD may provide those unable to drive today with new degrees of freedom (Disability talks, Drinking and driverless)

This year, 2025AD participates at a BarCamp for the second time. The highlight of the event is a Lego serious play session with the visitors. The models built are to answer the question, what a family friendly AV should look like: From a rolling playing room all the way to a family cinema or a retreat room for the parents: flexibility and range of different vehicles on offers will be key.

2020

While the pandemic is wreaking havoc in all areas of life it also sparks another push for autonomous technologies, offering contactless transport and deliveries (COVID19). By now the dream of a driverless future is taking big steps closer towards reality: All over the world more pilot projects than ever hit the road. The first European on-demand self-driving bus is being piloted in Trondheim (Norway’s self-driving bus), at Bristol (UK) airport passengers are ferried from car parks to terminals in driverless pods and New York is putting autonomous buses to the test in the Lincoln Tunnel. Some future visions even take to the air. Further commercial applications take concrete shape from driverless tractors (Autonomous agriculture) to trucks and even autonomous shipping, New technologies such as 5G open up possibilities and further drive development (The link between connectivity and driverless tech). New business models, their viability and potential are explored to a never-before-seen degree (Subscribe and drive). There is no longer any doubt that autonomous vehicles will become a fixture in our lives.

The work of the 2025AD team is rewarded with this year’s FOX award in “Automotive - Integrated communication”.

In 2021 the industry continues to work hard on solutions, putting more features into reality. Commercial applications show great potential and offer the clearest business case, thus taking on a pioneering role for broader implementation. Unlike in the early years, enthusiasm in the commercial sector is now high. Applications for industry (Why is autonomous technology a game-changer for Industry 4.0?), logistics (There’s money to be made in driverless logistics, Driverless delivery) and public transport (Autonomous Tech) are explored and to some degree implemented). Acceptance in the private sector, on the other hand, is lacking. A survey conducted by 2025AD confirms the private sector is still reluctant and trust in driverless technologies is yet to be gained (What will it take for us to trust driverless tech?). While by now it is pretty clear that technological and legal challenges will be met, consumers want to see “time in the market” as proof. Plus, young people are more likely to trust the technology than older people, used to driving themselves. So, the bottom line is: time will work in favor of Autonomous Vehicles.

2025AD is successful at FOX awards for the second year running.