WEF expert expects robotaxis to spread while private cars still need drivers

Maria Alonso, an autonomous driving expert at the World Economic Forum, told Die Presse that robotaxis and autonomous shuttles are likely to be used at scale in around 60 cities worldwide in ten years, mostly in China and the United States.

She said private cars are likely still to need drivers because autonomous operations will continue to rely on central supervision. Robotaxis and autonomous freight trucks offer greater near-term value, she argued.

Alonso said supervised driver assistance can improve safety but should not be described as autonomous. She also pointed to the cost and liability questions that have led carmakers to pull back from Level 3 plans.

For Europe, she expects autonomous trucks on freight corridors if cross-border regulations align, and robotaxis in a small number of large cities, while most other road vehicles remain human-driven.