A roundtable on cities’ readiness for deploying cooperative, connected and automated mobility (CCAM) at the Smart Mobility Summit of Cities and Regions

Cooperative, Connected and Automated Mobility (CCAM) is a potential key enabler of the transition of European cities towards smarter and more sustainable mobility systems; but are cities ready for it? Insights emerging from the roundtable on cities’ readiness for CCAM at the Smart Mobility Summit, during the ITS European Congress in Istanbul, point to a clear conclusion: while the technological building blocks for CCAM are largely in place, scaling up deployment across Europe will depend on how effectively cities integrate these solutions within their complex urban environments and align them with evolving EU policy frameworks.

It is also evident that awareness, preparedness, and institutional readiness for CCAM differ significantly across Europe. While some cities and regions like Oslo, Hamburg, Leuven, London and cantons of Eastern Switzerland are already experimenting with advanced CCAM services and digital infrastructure, many local and regional authorities are still at an early stage of understanding how these technologies can fit into their mobility systems. Public authorities and implementers are increasingly looking for more structured guidance, practical deployment frameworks, and clearer roadmaps to help navigate technological, regulatory, operational, and societal challenges. 

CCAM in the European policy context

The revised Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) Regulation reinforces the role of urban nodes as essential hubs for multimodal, efficient, and sustainable mobility. In this context, CCAM is part of a broader system transformation. European initiatives such as the CCAM Partnership, and collaborative platforms like the European Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Alliance (ECAVA) are working to accelerate deployment readiness. The Autonomous Drive Ambition Cities (ADAC) is a key initiative of the EU’s strategy to accelerate the deployment and integration of autonomous vehicles into the urban public transport system, as part of the large-scale cross-border testbeds announced in the Automotive Action Plan.

However, translating European ambitions into local implementation remains challenging. Many local actors still lack the technical capacity, operational expertise, and strategic insights needed to plan and deploy CCAM solutions effectively. This reinforces the need for stronger knowledge-sharing mechanisms, coordinated guidance at EU level, and closer cooperation between cities, transport operators, industry, and infrastructure managers. 

Priority use cases for cities

Across Europe, cities are already exploring a variety of CCAM applications. Automated shuttles, robotaxis, and logistics solutions are being piloted alongside more experimental concepts such as urban air mobility. Among these, the most promising and policy-aligned use cases are those that strengthen multimodality, particularly first and last-mile connections to public transport hubs, and those that provide flexible, on-demand services in peri-urban and rural areas where conventional public transport struggles to remain viable. Shared, flexible automated mobility services could play an important role in addressing mobility gaps in underserved areas while improving accessibility and reducing dependence on private car ownership.

These applications align closely with EU priorities on accessibility, inclusiveness, and decarbonisation, and can be integrated relatively smoothly into current mobility ecosystems. There is general agreement within cities and regions that “low-hanging fruit” use cases should be prioritised, as they are technologically more mature and can demonstrate tangible benefits relatively quickly. However, scaling them up will still require significant investments from vehicle manufacturers, mobility operators, insurers, and infrastructure providers.

In contrast, more complex use cases, such as large-scale robotaxi operations in dense urban centres or widespread deployment of privately owned automated vehicles, face greater technical, regulatory, and societal barriers. Europe’s complex urban landscapes – unlike the more grid-like cities in the US, where robotaxis are already performing well – present unique challenges for CCAM adoption. European urban environments are often dense, historic, and highly multimodal. This complexity requires CCAM solutions to be adaptable and carefully integrated into existing systems. Large-scale deployment becomes more challenging and reinforces the need for careful alignment with Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) and TEN-T urban node strategies.

Barriers to scale

Despite significant progress in research and pilot projects, several barriers continue to hinder large-scale deployment. Fragmentation in standards and a lack of interoperability limit seamless operation across cities and borders, undermining one of the core ambitions of the European mobility system. Different vehicle brands, infrastructure systems, and communication technologies must be able to exchange information reliably and securely in real time.

Gaps in digital infrastructure, particularly the uneven rollout of 5G/G5 and hybrid communication systems, restrict the ability to deliver reliable, real-time CCAM services. Beyond connectivity, CCAM deployment will also require enhanced digital and physical infrastructure, including dynamic road information systems and digitally accessible traffic rules. Automated vehicles can only operate safely and efficiently if they continuously receive accurate, real-time information about road conditions, traffic management measures, restrictions, and the surrounding environment.

Regulatory uncertainties, especially around liability and insurance, further complicate deployment. Questions remain regarding responsibility in case of accidents, how insurance models should evolve, and how risks should be shared between manufacturers, operators, infrastructure providers, and public authorities.

Economic and societal considerations also play a crucial role. While automation could reduce operational costs, particularly by removing the need for drivers, it raises questions about workforce impacts and job displacement. At the same time, CCAM could help address labour shortages in the transport sector, an issue that is becoming increasingly pressing as the workforce ages and fewer young people enter driving professions.  

Public acceptance and behavioural change are other critical factors that may prove as important as technological readiness. Building trust in automated systems and encouraging a shift away from private car ownership towards shared mobility models will require clear communication, demonstrated safety, and user-centric service design. As seen with the transition to electric vehicles, many users may adopt a “wait-and-see” attitude before trusting automated mobility solutions. Questions also remain around ownership models, affordability, and whether shared automated services can become attractive alternatives to private vehicle ownership. While vehicle sales could potentially decline in the long term, the impact on mobility service costs and rental models remains uncertain.

Cities also face competing priorities. Climate adaptation, affordable housing, social inclusion, poverty reduction, and energy transitions are already placing significant pressure on municipal budgets and political agendas. In this context, many local authorities question who will bear the costs of adapting infrastructure to accommodate CCAM deployment and whether the business case for operators will justify the investments required from cities. 

Pathways to large-scale CCAM deployment

What is becoming increasingly clear is that cities themselves are central to unlocking the potential of CCAM. Their role goes beyond hosting pilot projects: they must actively shape how, where, and why these technologies are deployed. This includes embedding CCAM into urban planning processes, ensuring coherence with sustainability goals, and safeguarding the role of public transport and active mobility.

CCAM also presents opportunities to rethink the use of urban space. If integrated effectively into shared mobility systems, automated mobility could contribute to reducing private car dependency, optimising parking demand, improving access control, and enabling a more efficient and people-centred use of public space.

The roundtable discussion at the Smart Mobility Summit of Cities and Regions point to some key takeaways and recommendations for cities and policymakers: 

• Focus on high-impact, deployment-ready use cases: Prioritise applications that are already mature and aligned with public policy goals, such as first- and last-mile services and on-demand mobility in underserved areas, before scaling more complex use cases.
• Integrate CCAM into urban node and SUMP planning: Ensure that CCAM deployment is embedded within TEN-T urban node strategies and Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans, supporting multimodality and sustainable urban development.
• Accelerate standardisation and interoperability: Strengthen coordination at EU level through initiatives such as the CCAM Partnership and ECAVA to enable seamless, cross-border CCAM operations.
• Invest in enabling infrastructure: Expand reliable digital connectivity (5G/G5 and satellite solutions), deploy dynamic road information systems and digital traffic rule management, and adapt physical infrastructure to support automated operations at scale.
• Ensure complementarity with sustainable modes: Develop regulatory and planning frameworks that prevent CCAM from competing with public transport and active mobility, instead reinforcing their role within the mobility system.
• Address workforce and economic transitions: Anticipate labour impacts while leveraging CCAM to mitigate driver shortages, ensuring a just transition for affected workers.
• Build user trust and acceptance: Prioritise safety, transparency, affordability, and user-centric service design to encourage uptake and behavioural change.
• Clarify regulatory frameworks: Provide legal certainty around liability, insurance, and operational responsibilities to support investment and deployment.
• Support local authorities and implementers: Provide cities and regions with structured guidance, capacity-building support, and practical implementation frameworks to help bridge gaps in readiness and technical expertise across Europe.
• Develop viable business and governance models: Clarify how infrastructure adaptation and operational costs will be shared between public authorities, operators, and private stakeholders to ensure financially sustainable deployment models. 

Pragmatic, city-led implementation that prioritises proven use cases, aligns with EU policy objectives, and delivers clear benefits for citizens is the key to successful CCAM. Only then can it significantly enhance Europe’s transport and mobility system.

This article was written based on a report provided by Peter Staelens, Eurocities (moderator), and Dr Stephane Dreher, ERTICO-ITS Europe (rapporteur), on the roundtable discussion at the Smart Mobility Summit of Cities and Regions on the topic ‘Cities’ readiness for deploying cooperative, connected and automated mobility (CCAM)’.

Participants:

Observers:

This article is part 2 of a 4-part series.

Part 1 Part 3 Part 4