Photo: Steven White/Mostphotos.
Rådslaget think tank: Clear rules are needed if robotaxis are to become an asset for Sweden
Robotaxis could become an important tool for increasing mobility and accessibility. However, without clear rules of the game, the technology risks weakening public transport, increasing congestion and making the public transport system less efficient.
That is the message of a report from the think tank Rådslaget, which is urging Swedish decision-makers to start preparing now for a development that is expected to accelerate over the coming years.
“Robotaxis have enormous potential to become a new tool for providing mobility and accessibility in the future. But we cannot be naïve and assume that everything will simply happen by itself in ways that support our transport policy objectives. We have produced this report to highlight opportunities, but also to shed light on challenges and propose what we believe is required to ensure this develops in a positive way,” says Elias Arnestrand, author of the report and project manager at Rådslaget (see fact box below).
According to the report, the development of self-driving vehicles in commercial operation is progressing significantly faster than society has adapted its regulatory frameworks. In several US cities, commercial robotaxi services are already operating on a large scale, and from 2027 the EU is expected to allow the wider deployment of fully automated vehicles across Europe. Rådslaget’s report emphasises the importance of society deciding what role the technology should play before it becomes fully established.
“We need a clear understanding of how this new technology can contribute, in which situations it can provide major benefits, and when it may instead create significant problems. Technology companies are currently making enormous progress in rolling out these services around the world, and society needs to step up its efforts to establish a clear and predictable framework,” says Elias Arnestrand.
Three key choices identified
The report identifies three issues on which Sweden needs to take a position. The first concerns whether robotaxis should be integrated with public transport or developed as a parallel system. The report argues that integration offers the greatest opportunity to harness the benefits of the technology while maintaining the public service mission of public transport.
The second concerns where the technology will be most useful. In dense urban environments, robotaxis are not expected to replace high-capacity public transport such as metro systems, rail services and trunk bus routes. In less densely populated areas, however, the potential may be greater.
The third choice concerns national coordination. The report warns that differing regional solutions could create a patchwork of regulations unless the state assumes clear responsibility for the overall framework.
Experiences from the US show both opportunities and risks
The report is based, among other things, on experiences from California, where robotaxi services have already been established. These experiences show that public authorities that engaged in dialogue with operators at an early stage had greater opportunities to influence developments than those that only acted once the services were already in place.
Research cited in the report also suggests that outcomes may vary considerably depending on how the technology is used. In an unregulated market, robotaxis risk drawing passengers away from public transport and contributing to increased congestion. Integrated solutions, by contrast, can function as a complement that strengthens the transport system as a whole.
One of Rådslaget’s key recommendations is that Sweden needs to develop a framework for data sharing between operators and public authorities, and that this issue is urgent. Authorities and regional public transport authorities need access to data on travel patterns, vehicle movements and impacts on the transport system in order to plan, monitor and regulate operations. At present, no such structures exist in Sweden, creating a risk that the introduction of robotaxis will become more of a problem than an asset. The report concludes that Sweden cannot afford to remain on the sidelines and merely observe developments.
“Development is moving incredibly quickly. In Sweden we are very good at discussing and reflecting, but this is a situation where we need a task force with the right mandate to make things happen,” says Elias Arnestrand.
Link to the report:
Robottaxis & kollektivtrafiken – vad händer med det svenska transportsystemet när förarlösa taxibilar etableras? (PDF in Swedish, new tab)
Facts: Rådslaget
Rådslaget is a think tank for societal transformation and new perspectives on mobility. The think tank is a collaboration between Region Stockholm (the Transport Administration), Västra Götaland Region (Regional Development), Västtrafik, Region Skåne (Skånetrafiken), the Swedish Public Transport Association, ShiftSweden and K2.
Rådslaget think tank – radslaget.se